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Volume S ^ . Number X 



Sf>i*ixi.££ k 95 




MEMORY MAP 

ROUTINES 



Information and Chairmen - TreaSury Note$ 
Input/Output - Zx-81Tape, Emulator News-Bits 
New Sinclairist - CATUG 
Re-Inking -by Rod Go wen, HELP! 
From The Chairman's Disk — 

FILES 



7 ZEBRA FDD— by Don Lambert 

8 The Best of Windows — by Robert Shade 

9 QL Hacker's Journal — by Tim Swenson 
11 QXL Notes — by Al Feng 

13 Z88 - My Memory Surprise — - by Hugh Howie 
13a Z88 - Power To You — by Hugh Howie 

14 Computus Interruptus - 2 — by Wes Brzozowski 
16 TS-Bulletin & Basic N-L — by William Harmer 

18 Daisy be Good II — by David Lassov 

19 Daisy Update — by David Lassov 

SUBROUTINES 



20 Mechanical Affinity 

25 RMG Updates 

27 Unclassified Ads 

32 Late Arrivals 




r 



Strike up the 





ZXir QLhe Alive! © 
Established 1991 The Timex/Sinclair NorthAmerican User Groups Newsletter 



T/SNUG Information 



T/SNUG 

Here is the list of T/SNUG 
Chairmen and how to contact them. We 
wish to support the following SIGs:- ZX- 
80/81, TS-1000, SPECTRUM, TS- 
2068, TC-2068, ZS8 and QL. If you 
have any questions about any of these 
fine machines, contact the: 

Chairman 

Chief Motivator 
Donald S. Lambert (ISTUG) 

Vice-Chairmen 

Tape & JLO PD Library 

D. G. Smith 
R 415 Stone St. 
Johnstown, PA 15906 
814 535-6998 

Z88 Library 
Dave Bennett (HATSUG) 
329 Walton St. Rear 
Lemoyne, PA 17045 
717 774-7531 

ZX-81 PD Tape Library 
Ed Snow 
2136 Churchill Downs Cir. 
Orlando, FL 32825 
407380-5124 

RMG Enterprises 

Rod Gowen (CCATS) 
14784 S. Quail Grove Cir. 
Oregon City, OR 97045 
503 655-7484 FAX 503 655-4116 

TS-2068 
Rod Humphreys (VSUG) 

10984 Collins PL 
Delta, BC V4C 7E6 Canada 
604 583-2819 

QL PD Library 
John Donaldson (CATUG) 
835 Foxwood Cir. 
Geneva, IL 60134-1631 
708 232-6147 

BBS — GATOR 
Bob Swoger (CATUG) 
613 Parkside Cir. 
StreawoocUL 60107-1647 
708 837-7957 Work 708 576-8068 

Editor/Treasurer 

LarKen PD Library 
Abed Kahaic (CATUG) 
335 W. Newport Rd. 
Hoffman Estates, IL 60195-3106 



ZXir QLive Alive! 



ZXir QLive Alive! 

Is the newsletter of 
T/SNUG, the Timex/Sinclair 
North American User Groups, 
providing news and software 
support to the T/S community 
in a v o 1 u m e of four newsletters 
per yean beginning with the 
Spring (March) issue. 

T/SNUG's main goal is 
to keep our Magazine, 
our vendors and our 
repair service alive for 
the benefit of T/S users. 

These valuable services shall 
have free advertising space in this 
user supported Newsletter that 
they can see that we are still active 
out here. We must support their 
services whenever possible. 

Another T/SNUG goal is to 
unearth titles of all known Public 
Domain and commercial software 
available for all Timex/Sinclair 
machines, building a library and 
providing lists of that software 
showing both the source and the 
availability. 

If you feel T/SNUG should 
perform other tasks, let us know 
your feelings. If you have solved a 
problem in one of your software or 
hardware, please share it with the 
rest of us. 

<As of March 1, 1995, we have a 
balance of $507.35 

*ypt ou can keep T/SNUG 
r \ry alive by an annual con- 
st^ tnbution of $12 for one 
volume made payable to Abed 
Kahale. Send check to:- 
ABED KAHALE 
335 W NEWPORT RD 
HOFFMAN ESTATES IL 60195-3106 
Phone:- 708 885-4337 

Back Newsletter copies are 
available for $0.50 each 

postpaid. 

_ _ ' 



Contributions 

Send in your articles by tape 
or disk and your inputs to:- 

DON LAMBERT 

ZXir QLive Alive! Newsletter 

1301 KIBLINGER PL 
AUBURN IN 46706-3010 

Phone 219 925-1372 

Or by hardcopy to: — Abed Kahale. 



TWISTED PAIR 

We have a 24 hour BBS and 
encourage you to exchange mail and 
contribute to the Upload Section. Use it and 
have fun!! (8N1 300-2400 BAUD) 

Call 708 632-5558 

and Register using your first name, last 
name and phone number along with a 
password you won't forget, and Write It 
Down! Do not try to do anything else this 
first time because all the board options will 
be locked-out. 

When you call-in the next time, you 
will have Level 5 security and be able to 
enjoy full user privileges. The BBS has 
smaller sections called conferences. Select 
"J" for "Join a Conference" to see the 
different user groups. Select "TIMEX" to 
get into the Sinclair Section. The mail you 
then read will only be from other TIMEX 
Sinclair users but all SIGs share the same 
bulletins. Use extension .ART for articles, 
.ADS for ads and .NWS for news when 
uploading. 

For help, contact the SYSOP by 
leaving a message, maiL e-mail or phone. 
Bob Swoger— SYSOP 

— --GATOR—-- 

You may freely copy any of the 
material in this Newsletter but, please 
credit the authorts). 

___ spring 1995 



Input/ Output 



S/50 Can. iknmtqU fokent UIqam&i 

The master Sine-Link newsletters, the Tape Library 
and 35 lbs. of UK magazines were also received. 

^kemk you Qemq& 

"Glad to see Hugh Howie is making contribu- 
tion. "; he wrote. 




Dear XTender Users, 

First of all, I would like to inform you that the 
development of XTender (the ZX81 emulator for 
MS/DOS) has been somewhat slackened in the past 
one-and-a-half year due to personal circumstances, 
if you're a registered user, please consider this letter 
as the proof that your registration is still adminis- 
trated and that you will receive (information about) 
any new releases of XTender in the future. Please 
inform me when your address has changed! 

Secondly, I am pleased to tell you that the long- 
awaited Zx8ITAPE utility is now available. Zx8ITape 
allows you to convert your own ZX81 programs from 
cassette tape to MS/DOS files. Zx8ITape generates 
P-type files that can be LOADed directly into 
XTender (and also into most ZX81 emulators for 
other computer systems, e.g. QL and Atari). All you 
need is a simple DIY interface to connect a tape- 
recorder to the COM-port of your PC and some spe- 
cially developed software. ZxSITAPE converts whole 
tapes at once - without any user intervention, The 
Zx8ITape disk contains this software, as well as text 
files that explain how to build the DIY interface and 
how-to use the software. 

At this moment, the precise status of the 
Zx81Tape utility is still indefinite. It may become part 
of the shareware version of XTender, perhaps it will 
be available to registered users only, or it may even 
become a separate package that can be ordered 
both by registered and non-registered users. 

Anyway, if you wish to obtain a copy of the 
Zx81TAPE disk, you can order it right now! To order, 



please send a note with your name and address, 
mention the text 'Zx8lTAPE' and include one of the 
following payments: (a) a Eurocheque worth NLG 
15, or (b) NLG 15 in cash, (c) DM 15 in cash, (d) UK 
£7 in cash, (e) US $10 in cash, or (f) 11 IRCs. 
(Unfortunately, payments other than the ones men- 
tioned here cannot be accepted and will be re- 
turned.) Upon receipt of payment, the Zx8ITAPE disk 
will be dispatched to you. 

I am looking forward to hearing from you soon I 
Kind regards, 

CARLOS DELHEZ 
EMMASTRAAT 3 
4651 BV STEENBERGEN 
NETHERLANDS 




EMULATOR II Disk Released to Public 



The files on this disk have been updated twice, but I 
am sorry to say that the disk hasn't been released till now. 
Since the idea came to me to get the Sinclair Emulators 
together, I've thought of also getting others, but wasn't 
sure of the response I get This disk is a result of some 
concerted efforts to get the Sinclair Emulators and some 
programs placed in one set, so that they can be distibuted 
on a wider basis, other than through Internet. If anyone is 
interested in getting the disk, they can contact vendors who 
can get this TIMEX Master Disk emulator set, or they can 
get in touch with me. (Please mention Emulator II Disk.) 



Qfilesjur" 
Spkuhzip.exe 

gjPOKE-SNA.ZIP 

g) README.TXT 

gjTSLIB102.ZIP 

g)TW2.ZlP 

djWHATISIT.TXT 

g]XTNDRD14.ZIP 

g)XTMDR114wZIP 

g]Z80-303.ZiP 

U) Z80STUFF.LST 

g)Z80STUFF.ZIP 



630 


1/31/95 


3:0634PM 


29378 


2/1/93 


2:04rf6AM 


4462 


12/4/94 


1:30:40PM 


3669 


1/5/96 


10:17:18AM 


126680 


10/31/94 


3:31:56PM 


10114 


12/4/94 


1:28:22PM 


3982 


10/31/94 


3:27:36PM 


106669 


11/29/94 


1:29:52AM 


132371 


11/29/94 


1:42:34AM 


22S70S 


2/1/95 


7:06:04PM 


1508 


9/22/94 


6:31:24PM 


34026 


10/31/94 


3:07:30PM 



An explanation of these files is included in the 
README.TXT. Please mention "Emulator Disk II" as the 
title in the e-mail. 

E-mail — rlg@world.std.com 

USPS mail — ROBERT L GILBERT 

1 2A NATHAN RD 
WALTHAM MA 02154 



ZXir QLrve Alive! 



Spring 1995 



ffigm jjinrlairists 

Today I received your response to my inquiry in an 
ad in UPDATE!, thanks for writing. I wrote Mr. Chrestien 
answering his ad for a T/S2040 power supply and a couple 
other items. Thank you for answering my questions. 

I'm anxious to learn more about this little computer 
(the T/S 1000). I like to wander around garage sales and 
thrift shops and picked up a couple of T/S 1000's real 
cheap. I found the little machine intriguing and like to play 
with it when I find time. I've had them a little more than a 
year now. Doug Wagoner 

Thanks for all the information you sent Up until now 
IVe just had the TS-1000. However, I've recently ordered a 
2068 setup as advertised in July UPDATE! from Frank 
Davis of Mechanical Affinity. In the future I'd probably be 
looking at performing some updates to the 2068 from in- 
formation I've picked up reading various Sinclair publica- 
tions. I recently purchased a large box of them from John 
McMichael of Laramie, Wyoming. Fd like to be able to use 
Spectrum software (Spectrum ROM chip), use my RGB 
composite Magnavox CM 8764 monitor (internal modifi- 
cations and appropriate connector) and get a printer inter- 
face and appropriate printer driver software. My printer is 
a 24-pin Panasonic KX-P2123 with color option. I'm not 
anticipating an upgrade to disk drives at this time because 
of the cost and troubleshooting that would probably be 
involved How best to attain my present upgrade goals? 
I'm quite mechanically inclined but probably have limited 
abilities when it comes to electronics. I have an article and 
diagrams for the update of the monitor but it seems to be 
aimed at someone with some experience 

Also, I'd like to place an ad in the next newsletter to 
obtain some magazines and software. 

Thanks again for the help Abed! Perhaps someday 111 
be writing you a letter on a Timex/Sinclair computer in- 
stead of my Commodore 128! 

Doug Wagoner 
Post Falls, ID 

Spectrum: A ZEBRA Dock Port board is avail- 
able from Mechanical Affinity. Call and ask for a 
price. If they dont carry the Spectrum ROM for that 
board contact first RMG. Otherwise contact me, as 
the LarKen V2 Spectrum ROM is available for sure. 
It is always better to stay out of the computer your- 
self and use only the above mentioned board. An 
internal solution may be available by contacting Dan 
Elliott of Computer Classics. 

Printer Interface: Contact RMG for an AERCO 
CP! for your large printer as he just acquired 
AERCO's complete stock. My KX-P2023 works di- 
rectly from TASWORD and MSCRIPT word proces- 
sors through AERCO. You select fonts from the 
front panel - EPSON emulation. 

Monitor: Connect a shielded cable from the 
COMPOSITE input to the VIDEO output of the TS- 
2068. Otherwise you will need an RGB board for a 

finer picture. 

ZXir QLive Alive! "~™~ — — — 



You should really think about getting a disk 
drive interface before you can't any more. The John 
Oliger Disk Operating System may be your best bet 
as LarKen DOS seem to be sold out. 
(Addresses are in the Ads section) £c&dn 

4 Members Join 
The Chicago Area, CATUG, In 1994 

Wefcome to tJte Sindair u>or&£ 

Jeff DeCourtney ZX-81 TS-2068 Tape 

Pillip Kwitkowski TS-2068 LarKen 

Bobby Muth TS-2068 Tape 

George Zimmerman QL 

Butch Weinberg, a former member of CATUG 
donated his collection of ZX-81, TS-2068 and QLs. 

Joan Kealy gave away her misbehaving LarKen 
RAMDISK to Bob Swoger. Bob with the help of 
Phillip Kwitkowski, CATUG brilliant young member, 
were able to bring it back to life after two days of 
surgery. Guess who got to keep it? They also built 
a couple of TASMAN printer t/Fs on the side. 



Doug Wagoner William Krossner 

J A Bowers Howard Chegwidden 
Larry Crawford J B Pegram 



Z88 Anyone? 

Joan Kealy got herself a Z88. Was it caused by 
Hugh Howie's article in the last issue of ZQAI? 

...I wonder? Cctiio* 



Recently received vol. 4, number 3 of ZXir QLive 
Alive!, It was the first issue that I have seen even though I 
was quoted on page 5 thanking you for your efforts with 
regards to SNUG. 

It is great news to know that T/SNUG is alive and 
kicking. The Unclassified Ads section is a fabulous feature 
in this fast changing world we have chosen to stay in. 
Is there any possibility of getting the copies that I missed 
out on? 

Enclosed is a pair of disks with my version of 
TASWORD that you may find of interest. 

Best wishes for success in 1995 and beyond 
Larry Crawford 
London, ON Canada 

Nice of you to join us and welcome aboard. We 
have benefited from the good articles that you have 
written over the years. Your article contribution is 
always welcomed. I will review your TASWORD 
version in the next issue. And thank you for the kind 
words. &ditan 

~ " Spring 1995 




New A. ddress 

UPDATE! Magazine 

PO BOX 17 
MEXICO IN 46958 



M0r8 Oil Re-Inking Your Own Ribbons 

byRodGowen 

Have any of you tried re-inking your own printer rib- 
bons? If so, you may have found that the ribbon ink tends 
to thicken up after a while due to the fact that it lasts so 
long. Some of the people I have spoken to or corre- 
sponded with tell me that they have been adding some sort 
of petroleum product (such as WD-40) to try to thin it out 
I have also been told that they use the same product to 
"wet" the ribbon if it is dried out. 

The use of petroleum products is very hard on both 
the ribbon (it can actually cause some types of ribbons to 
dissolve!) and to the print head. I have done a lot of re- 
search over the years on this subject and in all cases, when 
I have spoken to the 'experts', I have received the same 
answer: - USE REGULAR MINERAL OIL! The kind you 
may have in your medicine chest Use it to thin your ink 
and to 'freshen' your ribbons. Your ribbons will last 
longer and so will your printer's print head. 

To clean up your hands and workspace after doing 
some re-inking is the next topic. I have been told that folks 
have used various types of cleaners and again, petroleum 
products (like WD-40), to do this. I have even purchased a 
product from an ink supply house specifically developed 
for the job (at $18 a pint!) and found that for the most part 
the very best product I have used to date to clean my 
hands is the hand cleaner called GO- JO. It is available at 
any auto parts store as well as most department stores in 
various sized containers. I bought 2 l A gallon containers 
with a dispenser for about $15 a few years ago and am still 
using it A small tube of about 6-8 ounces will cost you 
about $2-4. 

I hope that these bits of information will be of use to 
some of you. Remember, RMG Enterprises sells the 
black and colored ribbon inks in various sized bot- 
tles. If interested, you will find an address and phone 
number elsewhere in this newsletter. 

Amen, I have been using mineral oil for thinning 
out the ink as it thickens with age and becomes like 
molasses. Also, see ZQA! Vol. 2 No. 3, Fall 1992. 



Errata 

Any idea why I received two copies of your Winter 
94 newsietter? True - 1 do have two eyes - but usually I find 
it practical to use both of them on the same piece of read- 
ing material! 

Unless you prefer otherwise, I'll give the spare copy 
to a friend, who has a few TS-2068 computers. You can 
never tell! 

In any case - someone should check the files to be 
certain that my name is not listed twice. 

The big clock on the wall says that bedtime ap- 
proaches .... so I will cease and desist as of now. Keep up 
the (otherwise) good work! 

Fred Henn 
Amherst, NY 

/ wont do it again, honest I believe what has 
happened was that the printer ran out of labels and I 
had to feed it again. 

Do give the spare to your friend, may be he will 

join us. <?c&a* 

Other than the mention on the first page of the Winter 
'94 edition of ZQA!, the tact that members need to renew 
at this time, was not trumpeted in the newsletter. It almost 
slipped by me; I hope other members are more observant! 
I appreciate your time and trouble. 

Gilliam Parrish 
Beggs, OK 




Please put the following plea into the next ZXir QLive. 

I have one Z88 that has developed a peculiar problem. 
I can shut down normally with the two shift keys, but it 
will not come back up, unless I do a reset (sometimes) or 
take the batteries out put them back after a few minutes 
and maybe have to do a reset also. Needless to say, this is 
frustrating since everything not SAVEd to EPROM is lost, 
and the machine must be reconfigured each time. Any 
ideas? Anybody have some schematics? TIA for any 
helpful hints. 

Greg Bridgewater debbie voice (412)363-9713 
INTERNET: gregbh2o@telerama.lm.com 

GREG BRIDGEWATER 

5500 HAYS ST 
PITTSBURGH PA15206 



4,195,835 - {(4,195,835 / 3,145,727) X3,145,727} = 

Pentium processors = 256 
Sinclair processors = 0 

ZXir QLive Alive! — — ^ Spring 1995 




WANTED NEEDED 

User's Manual 

QL Psion PC4 package for IBM clones. 
I have a client who would seriously like to 
buy the manual or borrow your manual to run 
copies, return to you and pay for all postage 
incurred. Any help would be greatly appreciated. 
He had a fire and lost his copy of the manual 

Rod Gowen 
RMG Enterprises 
14784 S QUAIL GROVE CIR 
OREGON CITY OR 97045 

503 655-7484 (10AM-7PM Tue. - Sat. Pacific) 

SNUG News 



I have completed the mailing of 
postcards to ali known past SNUG 
members. Received replies from them 
indicating the publication of their choice 
to have the remaining subscription 
extended in either UPDATE!, IQLR, 
T/SUNG, donate to T/SNUG or a 
refund. 

Their choices were: 
10 UPDATE! 
4 IQLR 
23 T/SNUG 
14 Donate to T/SNUG 
21 Refund 

7 Return to sender - address unknown 

The detailed information were sent to 
Paul Holmgren including updated 
addresses for him to carry on. 

The ball is in your court, Paul.! ScLUt 

WANTED: Bob Berch or JRC Compiler 

I was interested in your letter in the May 
issue of Electronics Now. ... I still have three TS- 

iooo's. I regard this machine as the 
finest teaching machine on micro- 
processors ever put on the market 



I would especially be interested in any 
compiler programs. I have used the Hunter board 
to extend memory in the 8-16K space, and have 
written some assembly programs for these boards 
I would be happy to share with the group. 
WILLIAM KROSSNER 
PO BOX 3047 
DULUTH MN 55803-3047 



We always welcome any material on the 
Sinclair machines. Phase, do join us. 




ZXir QLive Alive! 



5a 



Spring 1995 



FROM THE CHAIRMAN'S DISK 9 



Donald Lambert 




aw this in an electronic magazine an page 
13 of Electronics Now, February 1995 
but can a non-professional really 
wade through multi-megabytes of 
code? That is why a number of 
hobbyists are rediscovering the eight-bit systems 
and early IBM personal computers. They are 
understandable, inexpensive and fun." All the big 
memory computers have one fault and that is one size fits 
all. If you want to personalize a program for yourself it is 
virtually impossible to do it yourself and the pros want big 
bucks to do it for you because they do it to please 
themselves not you. 

For those of you that have the 747 Flight Simulator 
there was an article 
in READER'S 
DIGEST, January, 1995, that 
gave some flight specifics: 
take off speed 180 mph. 
Cruises at 37,000 feet at 600 
mph. The first production 
model prototype for testing 
rolled out September 30, 
1968. It is 232 feet long. 
Cockpit is 30 feet from the 
ground. 22 crew members 
and 57,000 gallons of fueL 
The 747 is a growth from the 
707. 1 have ridden in both. 
The 707 had more room for 
each individual passenger but 
then it had less cruising 
range. It is no feat for a 747 
to fly nonstop from Detroit 
to Narita Japan in about 13 
hours. 

In the March 1995 issue of 
Popular Electronics is an 
article by Jeff Holtzman 
(pages 68-69) on object- 
oriented operating systems. 
That gets into hierarchical trees which is a way to represent 
relationships among families. Wait a minute Lambert you 
done sprung that long "h" word what gives? O.K. in DOS 
that would be C:\ C:\FINANCE C:\F1NANCB1992 
C:\FINANCB1992\JAN. But wait a minute this is T/S 
not MSDOS! How true, yet with the Portuguese ZEBRA 
TOS that uses object system, it is quite in line. TOS allows 
you to have up to 15 DIRectories on a disk plus the disk 
name. So what does that mean? Well, for an example 
suppose you have a disk with games on it. You could label 
the disk GAMES and that is fine and dandy. But suppose 
you want to play a board game and it has been some time 
since you played games, is TARZEK a board game, an 
action game or a word game? So you create a DIRectory 




J 



Since UPDATE! Magazine and ZXir 
QLive Alive! are mailed quarterly on 
the same month, we have decided to 
mail ZXir QLive Alive! a month earlier. 
Our new mailing dates will be:- 
March (Spring) — June (Summer) 
September (Fall) — December (Winter) 



Any material for publication should be received 
by Donald Lambert or Abed Kahale by the 1 0 th 
of the proceeding month. 



BOARD and WORD and ACTION and when you SAVEd 
the games originally you put them into the proper category. 
Then when you want a board game you would 
CAT*:GAME: BOARD and it would display only the files 
under BOARD. There was more promised for the next 
issue of Popular Electronics, but I couldn't find the article, 
tart planning for the next Dayton ComputerFest that 
will be held August 26-27. Flea Market space will be 
available after May 31. The' 94 ComputerFest drew over 
44,000 attendees. See you there! 

ust fixed one of my two TS-2040 printers. I 
thought that I would have to replace the jack. 
What had happened was that the Jack had tilted 
away from the circuit board on the connector wires that are 

in the rear of the jack. So 
j I mixed up some epoxy 
and clamped it in place 
till the epoxy dried. 
Working now. I also 
have an Alphacom 
printer for a spare. I use 
a TS-2040 printer on each 
|| of my two working TS- 
j: 2068 computers. 

1 1 have been doing some 
i! soul searching and have 
i concluded that I have no 
i intention of ever working 
|| with the TS-1000 
I computer again, I have 

I lots of stuff related to the 

II TS-1000 that I would like 
to find a happy home for. 
At the present moment I 
have not inventoried the 
extent of my stored TS- 
1000 related items so if 
there is any one particular 
item you are looking for 
let me know. An offering 



price that includes shipping. You will see my ads from 
time to times. I have a CAI stringy floppy interface with 
extra wafers (the little tape cassettes if anyone is interested 
send me a letter with an offer). Expected shipping is about 
6 lbs. 

solved the on again off again static electricity problem. 
My computer chair has a leather seat and I wear two 
different pants at home, one is a pair of blue jeans and 
the other is some artificial fabrics. The blue jeans are not 
prone to static build up but the other one are so. 1 must 
remember to lay my hand on the ground strip (grounded 
through a 1 megohm resistor) before I even put my hands 
close to the computer. Slide on the swat of the chair in the 
artificial fabric pants and it is snap and crackle time. 0/0. 



I 



ZXir QLive Alive! 



6 



Spring 1995 



by Donald Lambert 



Some details of fhe disk Interface: 

The actual dimensions of a 3" disk are thickness 3/16; 
width 3 1/8; length 3 29/32 and they come in a hard 
plastic case which is larger. The 3" disks are called CF2, 
whatever that means. To compare the actual size of a 3.5 
disk is 1/8 thickness; 3 9/32 wide and 3 9/16 long. 

rhe actual interface unit is in several cases. First is the 
twister board to adapt the Spectrum/TC-2068 unit to 
the TS-2068 computer. It is 7.5" wide with the TS-2068 
feedthra coming off to the right and the TC-2068 feedthru 
going straight out from the TS-2868 computer. The twister 
board is about 4.5 inches deep. Plugged into the twister 
board is a box, the interface box, measuring 3.75" deep by 
3.625" wide and 1.187" high. It plugs into the twister 
board. On the back is a 15 pin D male socket. From the 
male socket is a coiled cord that goes to the controller. The 
controller, the disk drive and the power supply are all 
identically sized and can be stacked. All boxes are silver in 
color. Their dimensions are 2.750 highs 6.25 deep and 
4.750 wide. The power supply has three disk drives type 
connectors to supply power to a maximum of 2 disk drives 
and the controller. If more disk drives are added then it 
would be necessary to have another power supply for the 
added on disk drives. The controller has two 9 pin D 
sockets for the serial interfaces. 

One outstanding thing is that there are no exposed 
boards or wires and everything is self contained. 
With the T/S twister expansion connector it is possible to 
continue to use the regular accessories that you are used to 
using. 

Comparing the four disk interfaces, the LarKen, the 
Oliger, the AERCO and the ZEBRA or TOS in 
operation, the ZEBRA is more like the AERCO in that the 
disk has to BOOT automatically to get the disk system 
going. To use the TOS, you put a disk in the drive but not 
seated and turn on the power supply for the interface but 
not the computer. After turning on, push the disk to seat 
and the disk drive light will flicker and when it stops, turn 
on the computer, the disk drive light comes on again and if 
you watch closely you will see the screen flash with the 
normal logo plus a line that says TOS 1985. You get the 
AUTOSTART program if there is one or else the disk 
directory. The LOAD/SAVE and other commands are like 



the Oliger in that you use an * instead of / to use the disk 
system. 

I have successfully gotten a 3.5 drive to work with the 
interface in the one sided 40 track mode. Later I 
discovered that I could FORMAT to 80 tracks double sided 
but I did not get the four disks SAVEd to double sided 80 
tracks. I did get them to save to 40 tracks single sided on 
the 3.5 disks. For a reason that I dont understand the 
program "BACKUP" will only copy from a single sided 40 
track disk to the same type disk. While I was working with 
the system it died and apparently the edge card connector 
that plugs onto the twister board split and the fingers no 
longer made contact with the twister board. I shipped the 
entire outfit to Nazir Pashtoon for repair. 

I later received a letter from Jack Dohany. 1 ordered a pair 
of drives (3.5 new and tested) plus a 64K controller for 
the ZEBRA system so that I could use CP/M. After I get 
the system going I will get some CP/M disks for the 
ZEBRA system. I have found the 3" drives to be 
dependable and while I have no proofs I believe that they 
are 30ms in head step rate. At least they seem slow. I 
received 5 disks from George Chambers and while they 
had programs on them they were not TOS. I moved the 
drive to the other computer and tried the LarKen, and there 
was the directory. Of course they were single sided but a 
few were FORMATted to 42 tracks. I copied them to 5.25 
disks and have plans to reFORMAT the disks to TOS when 
I get the system up and going again. 

While I had the drive on the other computer I did 
check the rpm and found the drive to be a very 
uniform rpm 297 for all eight of the first eight revolutions 
on turn on. 

In a letter I received from Jack Dohany he stated that in 
FORMATting from DFM that if you select 40 tracks it is 
always FORMATted to single sided and that if you 
FORMAT to 80 tracks it is always FORMATed to double 
sided. So that is solved. That is in the FDD EPROM. 
The program BACKUP is only for copying 40 tracks 
single sided to 40 tracks single sided. I did not get a chance 
to test the copying routine on DFM since the interface died 
about then. When I get the interface back I will FORMAT 
disks to 80 track on the 3.5 drive and try out the copy 
routine. 

I have read and reread the FDD manual and now await 
the arrival of the interface to try out things. 0/0 





ZXir QLive Alive! 



7 



Spring 1995 




ff&ou pi snu 



by Robert Shade 



Each of the windows is preset by the implementation 
program to a different mode. The upper left section 
is set to All Characters, the upper right section to 
Capitals mode and the bottom section to Numbers mode. 
Press ENTER when data entry at an item is completed and 
the data entry cursor is erased and the highlight is placed 
over the next item. Each of the data entry operations 
produces a different tone. The tone for the *C to 'L' 
cursor is the highest frequency tone, the character tone is 
lower, and the ENTER to end data entry at that item is the 
lowest. This new data entry routine just as the older 
version has two sister routines that see to it that no less 
than 0 characters are left after a delete. The new data entry 
routine uses the standard 'CS' + '0' for character delete. 
This new data entry routine still does not provide an insert 
mode and locks out the arrow keys. I had considered and 
had tested an insert function for this new version but the 
fact that with the extended BASIC functions slowing down 
the whole data entry routine so much, I gave up on having 
an insert function with this version. Pressing Change 
function will change the business name LOOMIS-SHADE 
PHOTOGRAPHY to LINDA SHADE PHOTOGRAPHY 
and the AM to PM for the time of day entry and back again 
when each is highlighted. This demo has a complete date 
and time of day checking and error reporting routine. The 
Window to Window Shift function will cause the highlight 
at any item in any window to shift to the first item in the 
next window. The Next or Prior item function moves the 
highlight from item to item only within a window in an up 
or down direction with wraparound. Pressing the Finish 
function at any time allows the user to add any amount of 
data desired from a blank file to a fully entered file. The 
Finish function will first prompt 'Is All This Data Correct? 
' Y' or *N\ If NO is pressed the user can return to change 
or enter data into any item entry. If 'Y' is pressed that 
concludes data entry into that file unit and 'Another File 
Unit? ' Y' or 'N' prompt will appear. If ' Y' is pressed this 
will clear all the entries for the last rile unit from the display 
and setups the next file unit for data entry. If N is pressed 
the data entry operation is ended and the program will 
display the main options menu. The Quit function 
provides an immediate escape from the data entry 
operation to the main options menu at any time. One of 
the most important improvements to this demo is the far 
more extensive core of subroutines, the MC components 
and use of HI-RAM memory to temporarily store data 
entered.. All the characters in all these fonts center 
properly within the TIMEX attribute color (paper) block 
they are printed into. 

There are five fonts used by these demos: 

1. LarKen 64 character (for data entry), 

2. LARKEN Italic (for printing our company name to the 
screen on simulated labels) 

3. LARKEN 42 character (printing titles within the 
windows) 




FRAMES & BORDERS 



WITH COLORS 



Hf)D BOTH TIHEH * LftFiKErt FOriTS 



5" 




ALL READ Y TO WORM TOGETHER 
TO PRODUCE SCREEN DISPLAYS 
TO MEET YOUR SPECIFICATIONS 

4. TIMEX 32 character bold (titles & menus) 

5. TIMEX Graphics (borders, frames, constructs, simulated 
tractor-feed sheets & labels). 

Even though the LarKen italic font has been 
improved it still suffers. This produces a line which 
is readable, but slightly wider than desirable. 
Because the primary use of this font is to print our 
individual and company names to the screen display as 
simulated labels and record pages, the font has been 
divided into two halves to provide two ways of printing 
those names. The first half of the LarKen italic font only 
provides numbers, function capital and some symbols to 
be printed as individual stand alone characters. The second 
part is lower case characters which have been designed to 
print somewhat more succinct versions of our individual 
and company names. This is done by designing the whole 
line of characters so close together that most of the 8 x 8 
character blocks have more than one character per block. 
If for instance the LarKen italic font was selected you 
could print my company's name to the screen display by 
either PRINT #7; "LOOMIS-SHADE PHOTOGRAPHY" 
or PRINT #7; ''rnninopqrstefghijkl". The second screen 
print would not be as wide, but both are OK. The LarKen 
64 character font is LOADed into the LarKen cartridge. 
The LarKen 64 character font is the font used for the data 
entry routine. This font also provides three mode cursors. 
It provides an inverse 'C & 'L' for the standard upper & 
lower case printing, and an inverse right facing arrow 
cursor for numbers only data entry. I selected the standard 
font characters to be converted for use as cursor because I 
felt they were the least used and least missed. These were 
the underline, character code 95, for the inverse 'C cursor, 
the up arrow, character code 94 for the inverse 'L' cursor 
and the back-slash character code 92 for the inverse right- 
facing arrow cursor. 

These three selectable modes simplify data entry. A 
numbers only mode entry does not need a separate 
routine to ascertain if letter, function or symbol 
characters have been entered into a date or time of day 
entry by mistake. This new data entry routine allows the 
extended mode characters to be entered in all characters 



ZXir QLrve Alive! 



8 



Spring 1995 



and caps. By pressing SS & the Y. U, P, F or G keys, the 
user can print the extended mode brackets and copyright 
symbol to the screen. Not all these 5 fonts are used in the 
three window screen displays, so I have included two other 
demos that use all the fonts and graphics. The first of these 
extra demos is the font demo which presents one font at a 
time with its type and file name along with the standard 
TIMEX ROM font for comparison of use. The second 
extra demo is the graphics demo and uses primarily the 
TIMEX Graphics font to produce borders, frames & 
constructs. Each main screen display is labeled and some 
of the dozens of screen displays are titles and colored. In 
the graphics demo there are several displays which are 
used to preview data printouts these are the tractor-feed 
labels and pages. Other graphics displays are for the 
production of cover screens, such as horizontal and vertical 
film strips. The old "FTLMRECORDER" demo did have 
fonts in HI-RAM but did not have any MC program blocks 
in HI-RAM. These three window screen display demos do 
have some MC program blocks in HI-RAM. These include 
Jack Dohany's LarKen Disk Utility, 255 bytes and Jack 
Dohany's The Break Utility, 80 bytes, my Primary Data 
Entry Routine, 1399 bytes, and my Data Storage Buffer 
Clearing Routine, 65 bytes. I have enclosed a copy of the 
memory map of memory usage above RAMTOP, a copy 
of the core subroutines catalog listing, a copy of the 
substitution chart for the extended mode characters, a flow 
chart and a list of the router variable used in the LarKen 
extended BASIC part of the data entry routine, copies of 



the fonts demo displays and a few variables usage listings 
for your convenience. If the user/programmer needed 
more RAM space for an implementation program data 
string he could delete as many of the lines from the core 







T IHEK 


GRAPH 1 CS 


FONT 








! 17 


"71 


»= 


$1! 










:» s; 






,= 


-71 


.11 


/II 


Ol± 


l= 


211 


3/r- 


4^ 






7R 


©n 


9= 


: II 


; l£ 


<u 






?<c 


®V 




e* 




D| 


E* 


F* 


G# 




i% 


j# 


KE 






Mill 


olH 


pa 


Ofl! 


R'H 


si 


Till, 


UliT 


Ulfil 


u>= 






z.n. 


i> 


\< 


*3T 








a "5" 


b£ 


cO 


dU 


e|o 


f°\ 


9B 


hQ 


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■J .000 


KE3 






ni 




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rr 


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tn 


uj 


V 1 






yj 


zf 



















IMEK ROM (BLUE) TIMEK (BLACK) 
FONT FILE NAME - "CHGMOl.CS" 

subroutine as needed and that would still provide all the 
GO SUB's to get the job done. If the core subroutines line 
numbers were not changed the user/programmer could still 
use the same catalog of core subroutines listing as before. 
The core subroutines could be reinstated with a 
DELETE/MERGE from the end of the implementation 
segment before the next implementation segment was itself 
MERGED into the. program. Drive these demos around, 
kick their tires and let me know what you think of them. 



QL 



Hacker's Journal 



Supporting All QL Programmers 



Editor's Forumn 

The only key item of news is that as I am writing this 
the latest version of C68 v 4.2 has partialy come 
out. I received the zipped version of C68 Runtimes 
disk #1. Dave Walker should be sending the rest of the 
disk out soon. Since I have Internet access I am on Dave's 
mailing list for updates of C68. Dave prefers to distribute 
the package as a number of large mail messages. When I 
get them, I convert them back into a binary file and get 
them over to the QL. I then send a copy of the disks to 
Don Walterman of QBOX-USA and to Bob Dyi of the 
IQLR. If I remember, I can upload them to a number of 
QL FTP servers on the net. The key ones are 
maya.dei.unipd.it and ftp.nvg.unit no. 

For those interested I have a new Sinclair Internet 
Resources List that has a number of Sinclair World Wide 
Web sites listed. The amazing thing is that there is a ZX81 
home page out there. If you would like a copy of the list, 
send me a note. I tried posting it to comp.sys. Sinclair, but 
I don't know if I was successful! 



The last item of note is that I have finally broken down 
and bought some new hardware. I went out and 
picked up a new HP Deskjet 520 inkjet printer. Ifs output 
is almost laser quality, esp. with the specially designed 
inkjet paper. This is not something I normally do. My last 
printer, a DWP-230 daisy wheeL cost a grand total of $1 at 
a garage sale. And it has worked for 2 years with out fail- 
ure. It was only when I thought it died that I considered 
buying the Deskjet (I forgot that these diable HI-TYPE II 
printers do run out of ribbon and will not print after that 
And I thought it was dead.) 

That s all I have for now. Happy Hacking. 

Displaying QL Screens In MS-DOS 

Ifs not normally the policy of the QHJ to publish 
programs that are written for other platforms than the QL. 
But in this case, I can make an exception. The following 
program by Jeff Kuhlman is designed to display a QL 
screen file on an MS-DOS computer. I've tried it with my 
MS-DOS laptop (CGA display) and with a 486 (VGA 
display) and it works fine on both computers. 



ZXir QLrve Alive! 



9 



Spring 1995 



As more and more QLers are buying PC's, programs 
like this are becoming more useful!. - ED 

/* SHOWGR.C - A 'C PROGRAM TO DISPLAY 
' _GR ' FILES 

FROM THE MDOS PROMPT */ 
/* JEFFREY A. KUHLMANN 27FEB94 */ 
#inciude "graphics . h" 
#inciude "stdio.h" 
#include " string. h" 
#include "stdlib.h" 
#include "io.h" 
^include " oenio . h" 

char infn[81] ; /* input file name *7 

char strl [81] ; 

char buf [128*200+128] ; 

FILE inf; 

int arry[20]; /* utility array */ 
char rows [81]; /* row string */ 
char cols [81]; /* columns string */ 
int ctr, end, delim, col, row; 
int rctr, cctr, cptr; 
int chardat [8] , chrptr; 
char hexdat[81]; 
int hex [ 4] ; 

int blank [ 4] , where, pval, ccc; 

int mptr, fd, gm; 

main (argc, argv) 

int argc; 

char **argv; 

{ 

gm=5; /* Graphic Mode */ 

if (argc<2) /* If no file name given on 
command line, V 

{ /* ask for one */ 

setvmode (2) ; 

putsCQL SCREEN VIEWER FOR MDOS"); 

puts ("Press any key when done"); 

puts ("viewing picture. . . " ) ; 

puts("QL SCREEN file name? (w/o .SCR)"); 

gets (infn) ; 

} 

else st rcpy (infn, argv [ 1] ) ; 

s treat (infn, ". SCR" ) ; /* add required 

extension */ 

setvmode (gm) ; /* change video 

mode * / 

fd=open (infn, 0_BINARY) ; /* open file for 

reading */ 

mptr=0; 

if (fd==-l) {setvmode (2 ) ; pnntf ( "Can 1 1 
open %s" , infn) ; 

exit (0) ; } 
read (fd, buf, 128*200) ; 

/* A read first 200 lines into a buffer 

V 

for (rctr=0; rctr<200; rctr++) 

/* A 200 pixels in 'y 1 direction */ 
for (cctr=0;cctr<128;cctr++) 

/* A each QL line is 128 bytes */ 
{ pval=buf [ (rctr) *128+cctr] ; 
if (rctr&l) 
/* A need to take into account odd 
scan line */ 

poke(0xba00, (rctr- 
1) *40+cctr/2+8,pval) ; 
else 

poke (0xb800, rctr* 40+cctr/2+8 , pval ) ; 

} 

while (! kbhit ()) ; /* wait for keypress 

*/ 



setvmode (2) ; /* restore 30 col. 

mode * / 
exi t ( 0 ) ; 
} 

Recent Freeware Releases 

A number of freeware programming packages have 
come my way. I have copies if anyone is interested. Most 
if these programs should be available on the Internet. If 
not I will try to put them out there. 
BISON - Port by Dave Woodman 

BISON is another version of YACC (Yet Another 
Compiler Compiler). BISON is used to create a language 
parser. 

FLEX - Port by Dave Woodman 

FLEX is another version of LEX, a lexical analyzer 
creater. 

iNTERCAL - Port by Dave Woodman 

INTERCAL is a programming language designed to 
have nothing is common with any other major language. 
D1FF - Port by Dave Walker 

DIFF is a program that will show the differences 
between two files. 
RCS - Port by Dave Walker 

RCS stands for Revision Control System. RCS is a 
number of tools that are used to keep track of various 
changes to text files. Mostly ifs used on source code. It 
lets you back track a few versions if you need to. It can 
also be used in a programming shop where more than one 
person may be editing the same code at the same time. It 
lets one person check out the code and only they are al- 
lowed to update any changes. 
InfOCOm Reader - By Luke Roberts 

The program name is really ZIP. Most INFOCOM 
games are stored in a data file and a game file reader is 
used to play the game. ZIP is a QDOS port of such a 
reader. With this program, you can take almost any 
INFOCOM game and run it on theQL. Luke has tested it 
with a number of games already. For those that don't 
know what INFOCOM is; INFOCOM is a game company 
that put out a number of text-based adventure games back 
intheearlytomid-80's. A number of their popular games 
are Zork (I - III), Deadline, PlanetM, HitchHikers Guide to 
the Galaxy, and Suspended. 

In other news, I've heard from Dave Walker that a 
new version of C68 v. 4.20 will be out sometime before 
Christmas. I don't have any details on any of the changes 
or upgrades. Since I am now of Dave's distribution list, I 
should receive the new version as soon as Dave releases it 
For the U.S. readers, once I get it I will send a copy to 
Don Walterman so he can put it up on QBOX-USA. He 
said that he and John should be putting a hard disk on 
QBOX-USA soon, so he will have lots of disk space C68 
and other stuff. 

QL Hacker's Journal 
c/o Tim Swenson 
5615 Botkins Rd 
Huber Heights, OH 45424 USA 
(513)233-2178 
swensotc@ss2. sews.wpafb.af.mil 
tswenson@dgis.dtic.dla.mil 



ZXir QLive Alive! 



10 



Spring 1995 




Notes J3J3 



rfltT IRACLE SYSTEMS' QXL is the reality first 
I TTl suggested by the 1986 vaporware named 
FUTURA. Though the QXL was introduced in 
North America two years ago, there are many minor points 
that have not been mentioned elsewhere, and were not 
covered in the recently released manual (some of this in- 
formation has already been shared and may yet appear 
elsewhere). My own lack of information is partially the 
result of my year at an Indian Mission as well as my deci- 
sion to no longer be a QUANTA subscriber [I felt that 
QUANTA was too parochial in their outlook and non-UK 
members were apparently considered as an extraordinary 
postal nuisance]. 

For those not familiar with the QXL, it is an 8/16 bit 
PC-expansion card which uses a 20 MHz 68EC040 micro- 
processor whose operating system [SMSQ] emulates the 
Sinclair's QL computer's QDOS operating system. The PC 
is the host which shares its I/O devices with the QXL card. 
The QL's SuperBASIC has been superseded by the QXL's 
SBASIC. Both of the SMSQ and SBASIC replacements 
are supposed to be more robust than their original forms. 
Apparently, some quirks have been reluctantly retained for 
backward compatibility with existing software. 

THE HARD DRIVE 

The immediate advantage of the QXL's hard drive is 
that each WTN0_ is set up within individual DOS parti- 
tions. This was not obvious to me at first and is not 
clarified in the newly released manual, but is left up to the 
user to find out. 

Out of ignorance, I had reserved an entire hard disk 
partition for the QXL to use. So, when I went to 
FORMAT winl_24 and kept coming up "short" I was a bit 
perplexed. When I finally exited to DOS, I realized that my 
C: drive was now "full" and that there was a file called 
"QXL.WIN" in the C: drive DIRectory. HMMMmmm. 
Oh, I get it ... I FORMATted WIN2_ and that appeared on 
my D: drive; WIN3_ ended upon my E: drive; and, WIN4_ 
was placed on my F: drive. 

If your PC's hard disk is not partitioned, then you can 
only have one WIN0_ drive. So, if you are using MS-DOS 
6.0+, and were too lazy to partition the hard disk, then you 
may want to go back and partition it into separate hard 
drives. 

Just as there are reasons to have hard drive partitions 
on your hard disk, there is definitely a reason for having 
separate WIN0_drives. I found, quite by accident, that it is 
easier than one would like to corrupt a WIN0_ drive. I am 
pretty sure that my problems were the result of misusing 
FDFORMAT [Christopher H. Hochstaetter (Germany) via 
Tom Robbins], 

My "user error" seems to create a problem for the rest 
of the system with both a 3.5" diskette and an SMSQ 
QXL. WIN file being corrupted. I think that the problem(s) 



occur when I inadvertently tried to read a 1 .2 meg PC disk 
in the 5.25" drive which has been (for all intents and pur- 
poses) setup (?) to read a 720K drive. On one occasion, all 
the previously unused blocks on my E: drive became "bad 
sectors" (i.e., unusable). Bummer. Clearly, this problem 
can be avoided by being less careless (i.e., better disk label- 
ing). WOW.... Okay, the files on the 3.5" disk were 
dupes, but the contents on win2_ were my DBEASY files! 
DON'T PANIC ... plenty of room on the life boats ... 
When I finally decided to DIR win2_, it seemed that most 
of the DIRectory came up, until it came time for the screen 
to scroll the filenames. Abruptly, the QXL began to plod 
Essentially, the QXL was lost while looking at a corrupted 
24 megabyte file. 

I exited to DOS and looked at the QXL. WIN file to 
see what might still be there: <file>, <file>, <file> .... fol- 
lowed by an SMSQ error access message. I reckoned that if 
the files were still there AND the DIRectory was still 
"there" that I might be able to COPY the files to another 
DEVice. 

The key was to find which file(s) did NOT COPY as 
this would surely hang up the QXL. In this instance, I de- 
termined that the last filename of the DIRectory was not 
available to me. Knowing that, I WCOPied the contents of 
win2_ to raml_ except for the last file. Obviously, if you 
have more than 4 megs of files, you should consider back- 
ing up to another DEVice. I then re-FORMATted win2_24, 
then WCOPied the contents of raml_ back to wm2_. I 
then ran ARCHIVE from winl_, typed RUN "R" (this is 
how I start DBEasy having renamed DBEASY_PRG to 
R_PRG), and it was surely my lucky day, because the pro- 
gram ran flawlessly, and all necessary files were accessed 
without any problems. 

So, if you make the same mistake the odds are that 
you may have to reformat the particular WINQ_ drive. 
Worse yet, you may have to re-FORMAT the host drive! 
The advantage of having multiple WIN0_ hard drives as 
partition files on a PC host is that some diagnostic software 
for the QL may-or-may-not be available as of this writing. 
-UPER MEDIA MANAGER may be useful, but, 
I the one time I tried using it several years ago, it 
seemed to take quite a few hours to recover the 
files I wanted (including the learning curve). I am now very 
seriously considering getting a tape backup. Of course, if- 
and-when I get a tape backup for the PC host, I can selec- 
tively backup the QXL.WIN files exclusive of the PC files 
and sub-DIRectories. 

STATWIN2_ 

In the "early" days of getting acquainted with the 
QXL, I found that I could NOT get a DIRectory of win2_ 
from within QUILL. This was a bit perplexing as I did not 
have this problem with QLAMBer. It turns out that each 
win()_ needs to be accessed "manually" at least once be- 
fore a PSION program (and, possibly others) can access 




ZXir QLive Alive! 



11 



Spring 1995 



them. This was remedied by adding the statements: 

STAT win2_: STAT win3_: STAT win4_: STAT 

win5_ 

to a line of my BOOT. STAT returns the DEVice name 
and its size. 

Another situation (this is covered in the manual but 
is worth noting) was that I initially forgot to indicate 
PARJJSE "SER" (I think this has to indicate in upper 
case) and it appeared that SMSQ "crashed" when I went to 
PRINT a document Fortunately, I had gotten into the 
habit of SAVing before PRINTing. Again, add the appro- 
priate statements) to your BOOT program. 



nario, while attempting to delete a single character, lines- 
and-lines of text would disappear as the cursor "munched" 
along merrily until I hit the (E SQape key! 

WelL the solution to this problem was discovered 
while I was tinkering with my QLAMBer program. At 
some point while making code changes I must have real- 
ized that the NUMLOCK key was "on" and I turned it 
"off' with the net result being that the DELETErious effect 
on the main part of the keyboard ceased. EUREKA. 

BUT when running the QXL as a TASK under Task- 
MAX (DR DOS 6.0) a spurious character generation 
occurs when entering the QXL Task. Of course, this will 



THE SCREEN 

The first thing that 
you cannot help but 
notice is that on a 13" 
VGA monitor the 
pseudo-QL's screen 
display measures only 
9.5"diagonaily. I recall 
once thinking that I 
wanted a ten-inch or P^WP 



(mm 





smaller monitor for my QL for portability. I was younger 
then. I do know that some people had made mention of 
using a 1 7" or larger monitor, but I am not certain that this 
will result in a larger net display since it will probably map 
out the pseudo-QL to a similar dimension, and not propor- 
tion. 

I did try a composite monitor (on an EGA card), a CGA 
monitor (with a CGA card), and a TTL monitor (just for 
the heck of it). None of these produced a usable display. 
Being the naive one, I should think that a device driver 
could be written which would map the display to better 
"fill" a VGA screen. I'm not holding my breath for this 
development, though it may be resolved with the yet to be 
released version. I guess 1 could sit a little closer to the 
monitor. 

NOTE: Though I just received a new disk (labeied 
"SMSQ V2.4T) from DIGITAL, it had 'corrupted'' files 
on it I'll have to wait to see what changes were im- 
plemented. 

THE KEYBOARD 

Since the keyboard is hosted by the PC, you would 
think that there would not be any problems. This is not 
quite the case. The earliest versions of SMSQ did not map 
for what I will refer to as the North American layout estab- 
lished by IBM's Selectric series of typewriters (I may be 
incorrectly presuming that Canada has the same keyboard 
layout). SMSQ version 2.31 incorporates a KBD_TABLE 
command which resolves this. 

Regardless, a disconcerting QXL problem that I en- 
countered was a wildly erratic keyboard. My host is a 20 
MHz 386-DX clone with a Phoenix BIOS and a ZEOS RS 
keyboard. 

Simply stated, when using QUILL the cursor would 
occasionally race all over the text. In the worst case see- 



not be a factor if you have dedicated a host to your QXL 
card. 

Trial-and-error discovery revealed that the spurious 
character generation can be aborted by pressing a <CTRL> 
+ <any_key(?)> combination. Iuse<CTRL><C>. 

My "tests" showed that you CANNOT cut-and-paste 
from DOS to SMSQ. 

As far as I know, the QXL can not be RUN as a 
TASK from within WINDOWS 3.1. 

QXUNT 

WelL QXL/NT [as in "(e)x(cel)l(e)nt" or "new tech- 
nology"] is my designation for the yet unnamed (as of 
January 1995) 50 MHz 68060 daughtercard. If a 20 MHz 
QXL with SMSQ is supposed to be faster than a 50 MIPS 
work station, then you might well guess that this newest 
incarnation might be fast enough for Abed to use. (You 're 
getting warm AJ.) My guess is that it will be formally in- 
troduced at this Spring's MIRACLE in Oak Ridge (!?!). 

Based on the recent price reduction of the QXL, I 
would guess that the QXL/NTs initial price might be simi- 
lar to the "old" QXL prices. WOW. 

THE BOTTOM LINE 

Based on hardware developments over the past three 
years, the QL apparently has "legs" and QDOS and SMSQ 
will probably remain as viable alternative to mainstream 
Operating Systems. 

Consequently, your wallet should be the only re- 
straint from your upgrading to a QXL(/NT), or (SUPER) 
GOLD CARD. 

I can't wait to see what the QXL/NT can do! 

HAPPY TRAILS, 

AND COMPUTING, TO YOU ... 



ZXir QLrve Alive! 



12 



Spring 1995 



Z88 - My Memory Surprise 



by 



An "in USE" hoblem 

kecentfy when using my Z88, 1 was bugged by 
not being able to save to a file that was 
already in existence. I also could not erase 
that file. I could load it, edit it, save it to another 
title, but not the original title. I was continually 
being told IN USE. I did note that the original title 
had 2478 bytes, but the second title had only 
2477 bytes. It was much later I took any notice 
of that. 

M fter a few hours of this and that and trying 
Mm many things, I decided to call Paul 
I I Holmgren and get his view on the problem. 
He made a few suggestions, none of which were 
of any value, then he asked "Have you tried a 
SOFT RESET?" I had not - did so, and problem 
solved. Now both titles had the same number of 
bytes. I can only presume that something had 
added an extra byte and caused the IN USE 
function to be activated. 

Since then I have had the same thing occur 
again, and a soft reset cures the problem - 
but I still would like to know what causes 
the problem. 

nother thing Paul and I touched on was 
Mm memory. After we got off the phone I took 
I I another look at the memory I had available, 
which was in the region of 23 8K. Now I do 
know that when I got the Z88 1 had a 128K RAM 
card in #1 slot On thinking, I came to the 
conclusion that the originally fitted internal RAM 
and the existing external RAM could not possibly 
add up to 238K with a number of records on file. 
How to find out was my problem. 

I had noticed that all files were SAVEd and 
LOADed from RAM 0, so I wondered what 
would happen if I SAVEd to RAM 1, using 



different titles of course to make sure all was in 
order. I discovered I had both sets of titles in 
different RAM numbers. 

next stage was to remove the external RAM 
from its #1 slot, and see what was left. I still 
had well over 11 OK left! This now proved 
that there had to be not the original small RAM 
which I understood to be about 12K, but that I 
had an internal RAM of about 128K? So I, in 
this small machine must have 256K. Is that not 
WOW - in consideration of what I paid for it 
initially? 

■plugged the external RAM back in, and I was 
Uback up to the 238K mark once again. I don't 
I know what I have really, and I would have to 
erase all my files just to find out - and who cares 
anyway. All I know is I have oodles and oodles 
of memory. I can save to RAM 0 or RAM 1. just 
like a double disk drive! And none of those rattles 
and groans and grunts and bad medium messages 
of the mdv's 

I have been asked what I use my Z88 for. Well, 

I I use it in the car and at home. I can have a 

I number of files such as bank account, car 
expenses, tax account, diary of noteworthy dates, 
a notebook (have you seen my writing? I can 
hardly read it myself on occasion) and when I get 
home, I can transfer all that stuff to my QL disk 
system for safe storage. 

I I frees up my QL's for other works. And I 
I really do believe that the spreadsheet has many 
I advantages over the QL system. Yes, a very 
handy little tool indeed. 

■ understand that Paul Holmgren and Frank 
Davis are selling them for $230, including the 
128K RAM, which is very favourable 
compared to the UK where the price is £99 plus 
shipping of £20 to the US and Canada, 




(See Mechanical Affinity ad ) 



ZXir QLive Alive! 



13 



Spring 1995 



Z88 



PovJer To \lou 



by. Hugh Howie 




I have been reading what various folks have to 
say about the Z88 Power Supply, and the types of 
batteries to use, so I thought I would add my little 
contribution to the discussion. 

When I first got my Z88, 1 had to use batteries, 
so, as I had some Ni-Cad lying around I used them, 
and I found that they worked fine. I had no real 
Problems. Perhaps I did not get the full twenty 
hours out of a set of batteries, but what I did get 
was quite adequate for me. Problem was that two 
sets were required, so I got a second set that was of 
a different manufac- 
ture as the first so 
that when a battery 
change was being 
made, there was no 
chance of a mix-up. I 
was happy with what 
I now had 

I eventually al- 
lowed myself to be convinced that the alkaline 
battery was the way to go. So I bought a charger 
and two sets of batteries, and right away I saw a 
problem - how to keep the two sets apart, so I 
solved that one by getting some very thin bright red 
plastic paper and pasted a strip about a half inch 
wide, around each battery of one set with this. 
Works great! 

Yes( I do believe the Alkies last longer, as to 
brighter representation, I don't think so. 

How do I keep my spare , set in the traveling 
case I use for the Z88? Well, I had been putting 
some of that round plastic foam insulation on my 
hot water pipes, so I took a short piece about $Vz 
inches long, glued a plug in one end, inserted the 
batteries, and found a plastic plug for the other end. 
Now I have no more loose batteries rattling around. 

This being Income Tax time, I, like everyone 
else, had to get out my old printing calculator, only 
to find that it was "Out of order" close inspection 
showed that one of the rubber bands that carry the 
numerals had broken. I guess it had deteriorated 
over the years, and just became brittle. 



What to do now was the question, so I hied 
over to my local Business Depot, and found I could 
get a 6 X 8 inch printing calculator for $39.95, 
which was a lot less than what I paid for the broken 
one, and less than a repair job would probably be. 

The digital display was about % of an inch 
high, gosh, even I can read that size! This little 
beasty also worked off four AA batteries, so I 
brought one home with me, inserted my old Ni-Cad 
batteries, and off to the races. Boy! could that little 
thing really trot! Did as much as my old expensive 

one ever did, and 
equally fast too. 

The price also in- 
cluded an adapter, 
so I had a printing 
calculator using 
the standard 2Va 
inch paper, that 
works off both 
battery and mains — what more can a man ask for? 

I looked at the adapter. Thought about the four 
AA batteries — Six volts. What was the adapter 
end like? Looked awful like the end that would fit 
into the Z88. Plugged the adapter into the wall, out 
with the voltmeter, checked voltage. Yep, OK, 
checked if center was positive, Yep. Hey man! this 
could work the Z88! Plugged it into the Z88 
orifice, OK Removed the batteries, OK Okay! I 
now had a mains powered and battery powered Z88, 
and also a mains powered and battery powered 
Printing calculator. All portable! The one adapter 
can be used for both units. I can't complain about 
that — could, or would you? 

Now in case you are interested, the calculator 
is a Canon P20-DH. The adapter used is a Canon 
AD-11. 6 volts, 300 ma. 

I now have a portable computer, and a portable 
printing calculator with large display. 

With that setup I would not call the King my 
cousin. Would you? 



ZXir QLive Alive} 



13a 



Spring 1995 



The Joy of Using Interrupts 



by Wes Brzozowski 



Response to Part One of this series has been 
quite gratifying so far. However from what I've 
heard, it seems that a little "fine tuning" of the format 
is in order. Essentially, we'll do fewer things in each 
installment stretch the series out longer, and give a 
little more attention to detail. This wiil give those 
new to the subject a little more help and time to 
catch-up. It also means that we won't cover as many 
things this time as promised, but it will all get done, 
eventually. 

I hope readers who own or have access to a 
TS-2040 printer have tried out the demonstrator 
program. If not it would be worthwhile to do so 
before reading further. Now back to the 

questions. 

6 How does the demonstrator work? 
Pretty well! Seriously, lef s first look at what 
the demonstrator sets up in memory, and then 
we wiil see how it all works together. Under- 
standing this description wiil require a bit of knowl- 
edge of machine code, but only a bit. The demon- 
strator has been written to be understood by as wide 
an audience as possible. (That audience will also 
need a little persistence, though) 

Line 30 CLEARs the necessary space for the 

10 PEN IM2 O*«wstration Proqr 

am 

20 REM Caus*4 * Copy— Sere •<» Wh 
•n BREAK and SYMBOL-SHIFT are pr« 
ss*d together. 

30 CLEAR 6S020 

40 FOR j =65024 TO 65280: POKE 
j,253: NEXT j 

50 POKE 65021,133: FORE 65022, 
3: POKE 63023,255 

ftO FOR j =65281 TO 63314* READ 
ks POKE J r ki NEXT j 

70 DATA 62,254.237,71,237,94,2 
01,245, 197,213,229,62, 127,219,25 
4,246,224,254,252.32,6,243,6, 132 
,205,3, 10,225,209, 193,241, 195,56 
» 0 

BO RANDOMIZE USR 65281 

Interrupt software. Line 40 fills memory locations 
FEOOH (65024) to FFOOH (65280) with FDH (253). 
Line 50 places a JP FF08H (65288) instruction at 
location FDFDH (65021). Lines 60 and 70 load the 
following machine code, starting at location FF01H 
(65281). 

I've divided the code into five blocks, whose 
meaning will be explained shortly. 

Line 80 executes machine code at location 
65281, which, not so coincidentally, is equal to 
location FF01H in the machine code listing. Only 
block #1 is executed, since it ends with a RET 
instruction. Block #1 loads FEH (254) into the I- 



register, and sets the machine into Interrupt mode 2, 
whose operation was explained last time. 



RRDR MEXCODE 
FFOl : 3EFE 

ffos ED5C 
FFOT C 9 
CFOO CS 

rr®9 CS 

FFO« D5 
FPfiSB ES 
FFCC 3E7E 
FFOC DBFE 
FPIO F<5E© 
FF12 FEFC 
FF14. 
FF1S 
FF1? 

FFia cDOseft 

FFIC El 

FF1D> Dl 

FFIC CI 

FFIF Fl 
FFIO 



LABEL MNEMOM^Q 

l_D ft . FE- 
UD r , « 

IM S 

RET_ _ _ « 

PUSH ?>F 
PUSH 6C 

push oe 

PUSH HI 

LD fl,7F 
IN A . (FE) 
OR E0 
CP PC 
r -JR N2.FF1C. 
DI 

L.D B , CO 
CALL 
► POP ML. 
POP OE 

pop esc 

POP mF 
vJP 0O38. _ _. 



From here on, the TS-2068 is doing something 
new that it does not ordinarily do. Every time an 
Interrupt occurs, the machine has to find out where it 
is to execute the Interrupt code, it gets the upper 
byte of an address from the l-register and the lower 
byte from the data bus. This combination is the 
ADDRESS OF THE ADDRESS of the Interrupt 
handler. It will become clearer (hopefully) as we 
"walk through" what happens. 

When the TS-2068 gets an Interrupt it looks to 
the l-register and the data bus to generate the 
address FExx, where xx is a number that is not 
known because the TS-2068 mysteriously puts 
different values on the data bus at different times. 
The TS-2068 will then look to memory location FExx 
for the address of the interrupt handler, and then run 
the code wherever that happens to be. 

However, the BASIC program filled all memory 
locations from FEOOH (65024) to FFOOH (65280) 
with the number FDH (253), so no matter what value 
FExx happens to be, the TS-2068 will find FDFDH 
(65021) when it looks there! This is where it will start 
to execute the Interrupt handler. 

Unfortunately, FDFDH (65021) is just 3 bytes 
less than FEOOH (65024), where the "kluge block" of 
FD's is located. There's not room for much code, but 
there's just enough space for the JP FF08H (65288) 
instruction that the BASIC program put there. This 
means that the Interrupt handler will continue at 
location FF08H or, block #2 in the machine code 
listing. (It gets a lot simpler from here on, honest) 

If the explanation seems murky so far, its O.K. 
to forget it for awhile. Just take my word for it that 
the aforementioned code makes it appear that an 
Interrupt will cause code to be executed at location 
FF08H (65288). This is where our true Interrupt 
handler is to be found. 



ZXirQLive Alive! 



14 



Spring 1995 



The handler begins with block #2, which saves 
all of the registers. We do this so that we can leave 
them as we found them when we're done. This will 
ensure that we don't disrupt the program that was 
running when the Interrupt occurred. 

Block #3 reads a small portion of the keyboard. 
We won't cover keyboard scanning here, but block 
#3 causes block #4 to be skipped if the BREAK and 
SYMBOL SHIFT keys are not being pressed simulta- 
neously. 

Block #4 causes the screen to be copied. Be- 
fore CALLing the screen copy routine in ROM, we 
load B with the number of pixel lines to be copied. 
Changing this would allow us to COPY only part of 
the screen. 

Block #5 prepares the computer to leave our 
Interrupt handler. All registers are restored to their 
original values. Note that the first item that POPs off 
the stack is the last item that was PUSHed on. This 
means the registers must be restored in reverse 
order. 

Ordinarily an Interrupt handler ends with RET1 
(similar to RET) instruction. In this case, we'll end it 
with a JP 38H (56), which jumps to the normal 
Interrupt handler. This allows the normal Interrupt 
functions of keyboard scanning and updating the 
system variable FRAMES to be performed. 

7 YOU MENTIONED COPYING ONLY 
PART OF THE SCREEN, HOW IS 
THIS DONE? 

By LOADing a different number into the B register 
before CALLing the COPY routine, You can change 
the number of lines printed in the following way. 
Suppose that LINES = the number of lines of 
characters (from the top of the screen) that you want 
to COPY. Just POKE 65304, (8 X LINES). The 
handler is now setup to COPY only part of the 
screen. 

8 WHAT OTHER THINGS CAN AN 
INTERRUPT HANDLER DO? 
By reading the system variable FRAMES, 
which is incremented every 1/60th of a 
second a nice real time clock can be made, that 
flashes the time up on some unused part of the 
screen, even when you're running other programs, 
FRAMES isn't updated when the Interrupts are 
disabled so the clock "stops" whenever you use 
cassette I/O, the TS-2040 printer, or the BEEP 
commands and resumes when you are done. Still, 
ifs a free, "software only Clock". 

If the Interrupt handler were linked to a hardware 
real time clock, the clock wouldn't stop at all. 

Among other uses is an item called a print 
spooler. Printers are very slow compared to the 
computers running them, and the computers spend 
most of their time waiting while the printer is running. 



ifs possible to send LPRINT commands to a buffer 
area in memory, and have the Interrupt handler "pick 
up" this data and print it one character per Interrupt. 

This wouid allow the printer to run at up to 60 
characters per second while you're doing other 
things with your computer, In other words, you could 
be RUNning or ENTERing a program at the same 
time as the computer is printing something else, 
Those who've used such a feature on an IBM PC or 
other computers will agree that it is a great time 
saver. 

Another use is a program that reads and "stacks 
up" keyboard entries before the computer requires 
them. When an INPUT is needed, it gets it from this 
stacked up data, This is called a keyboard buffer, 
and ifs also very convenient 

Since the Interrupt is synchronized to the video 
displays ifs possible to change the BORDER color 
some fixed time after the Interrupt and obtain a "full 
screen horizon" that extends into the border area. 
The Spectrum game Aquaplane does this, but the 
required timing may be different to make the effect 
work on the TS-2068's 60 Hertz Interrupt (The 
Spectrum uses a 50 Hertz interrupt) I've not seen 
the game working on a TS-2068, but the effect is still 
available to us. 

These are items that come immediately to 
mind. Other less obvious uses are out there. One 
that I'm considering involved my software that makes 
BASIC work in the 64 column mode. Certain key- 
board inputs cause the computer to change a 
system address table in an undesirable manner. I 
expect to use the Interrupt to "change the table back" 
before any harm is done. 

There are many other uses. 

A PROLOGUE 

Doug Dewey, member extraordinaire, of the Tri- 
angle Sinclair Users Group, tells me that merely 
adding pull-up resistors to a Spectrum emulator as 
suggested last time, doesn't clear up all of the 
problems related to certain "un-RUNnable" Spectrum 
programs. He's sending me copies of some pro- 
grams, and I'll be checking them out especially in 
understanding the way the Spectrum handles the 
data bus during Interrupts and whether my "fix" works 
as expected on all machines. 

Next time (or in later installments) we should be 
looking at the problems of relocating the demonstra- 
tor code, of the (solvable) problem of doing some- 
thing like the demonstrator on a TS-1000, and 
constructing hardware to make use of the TS-2068 
Non-Maskable Interrupt. Those looking for a chal- 
lenge should try to relocate the demonstrator to 
reside in the 16-32K memory region. When a certain 
part of the Interrupt software resides in the same 
16K region as the display file, something interesting 
happens. It still works, but ... 



ZXir QLive Alive! 



15 



Spring 1995 



TS BODO-ILEtniGa S B&SEC CD-B- 



TS Bulletin Amateur Newsletter — Supplement #A-1994 — Aug. 18, 1994 
©Aug. 18,1994 by Bill J. H aimer, Ottawa, All rights reserved 



WILLIAM HARMER 
97 RUSKIN ST 
OTTAWA K1Y4B3 
CANADA 



imes are changing. Woodstock 1 994 has just run its 
f| muddy course, and the cries of liberation from ^the 
\^X f system' that brought the 'computers to the people' 
movement onto the fringes of the peace movement and an 
underground press freed due to technology, all that 60' s 
stufl; flood back. It seems so recent. How things have 
changed! The computers that 'the people' did get, have 
become part of an urban pieceworker/24-hour on-call- 
employee, economic system which is not particularly lib- 
erating at all. The cheapness of publishing has reached the 
point, however, that personal publishing is with-in the reach 
of just about anyone with a minimum of know-how. But it 
has led to a new form of co-op publishing, which is some- 
thing similar to network publishing/BBS text files, in that 
the writers for a new generation of small, personal, and 
specialized publications, commonly called 'Zincs' (short for 
magazines or fan-magazines'), may have never met face-to- 
face, and send their material in mainly by modem, (and not 
to BBS systems or commercial networks, mostly but per- 
son-to-person), starting the session with a voice telephone 
conversation. This means that contrary to what George of 
Toronto Sinclair User Club said recently, it is quite normal 
today to run a publication with the officers/writers/editors 
spread out across the country. It is not even necessary to 
have a modem, (I don't), since the bandwidth of a 500 
stamp is considerable when used to carry a diskette across 
country, Anyway, times are changing, and it would be a 
shame to see the user Group movement fold, just on the 
basis of things like this. 

n^k 11 this brings back not-too-pleasant memories of 
t\ the Ottawa TS group folding. While the club 
^^Cv newsletter folded, this one continued on a reduced 
scale but there are no plans ever to simply halt The last year 
saw one supplementary newsletter like this, and perhaps the 
photo-reduced, small format newsletter has more issues left 
to go. So it continues ^definitely if sporadically, in other 
words. The only change is the decision to take material out 
of the public domain since with few newsletters left to re- 
publish it, that makes little sense. The original reason for 
putting material in the public domain in the cost, (aside 
from a challenge from the Texas TS group), was to facilitate 
copying without red tape of asking for permission or worry- 
ing about legal technicalities. Now all such permission has 
been withdrawn, since for material other than that submitted 
by myself to other newsletters (and there is still tons of still 
in drawers here, unpublished), it looks like there will be few 
hobby publications to publish them. So I might as well keep 
the copyright since some of the material may get sliced into 
my own writing on various subjects (techno-trends and 
techno-history is the current wnting interest in a relate field). 




ZXir QLrve Alive! 



16 



ut there are other, rather important reason to con- 
tinue. There are things to do. What can this news- 
> letter offer? One thing is celebration of the libera- 
tion from a stuffy educational system that has lost its touch, 
at least for education of the ordinary student in subjects of 
close job and modem mathematical relevancy, this libera- 
tion brought by the near universal availability of home 
computers. We can add practical help with reader self edu- 
cation especially in programming. And the final one: a boost 
for BASIC, the programming language despised by the 
educational establishment, but still, just about the only pro- 
gramming language a beginner can learn, almost alone. 
Since a beginner cannot learn it completely alone, there lies 
a task for such a newsletter as this, emulators, simulators, 
word processors and databases all look remarkably simple 
from within, if the simplest possible BASIC programs are 
used to explain them. Computer software is to mathematical 
education today, what reading and writing was by way of a 
con commitment, in ancient times. So here is to a revised 
newsletter, featuring, BASIC andTS home computers. 

Great Blue blazers and Other incendiary Topics 

The question of why anyone would turn their coat and 
run into the arms of the blue-blazing IBM clone world, has 
again reared its ugly flaming head. Why not? They certainly 
are cheap, 286' s selling for a couple of hundred used here 
(even though those like the writer see no need to trade in the 
8088, with less than a full unit of Norton SI seed). The clone 
world has finally caught up with the pocket-book size of 
even ZX-TS users. Perhaps in the future, outside of muse- 
ums, the only TS computing, will be inside clones with 
software emulators. But that does not mean that the TS 
BASIC'S need be abandoned for others. And since CP/M 
emulators for clones are easy to find and cheap (How is 
free? Cheap enough?), the CP/M side of the Z-80 (and for- 
mer QL CP/M emulator users) Sinclair computers can con- 
tinue too. (Maybe CP/M command line use will live almost 
as long as MS DOS command line, now that MS Windows 
and its quasi-clones, are replacing MS DOS command line 
interface in clones. And it all started in DEC computers and 
Victorian era telegraph systems, according to my historical 
techno-archaeology.) So, why not both? 

/ Tg f he second question is, why not turn TS groups into 
/| programming workshops, specializing in old com- 
V j^V pntpr hobbyist languages like PASCAL and even 
BASIC interpreter programming. This thought was greeted 
with terrific ennui every time I would propose it at meetings 
of our now-defunct Ottawa-Hull TS User Group in various 
ways and versions, over the last years. At least it would 
have helped the kids, some new youngsters coming to the 
last meetings of our club, looking for such talk and tutoring 
in techno-literacy. Whether BASIC deserved it or not, 

Spring 1995 



academics shunned it, making our BASIC an orphan 
language just as the home-type computers were orphaned 
by their manufacturing supporters in the 1980's. A good 
academic question is whether it was BASIC or the comput- 
ers being orphaned that ended most user groups. 

"What To Do?" Is Today's Question 

The question now, is what to do with our hobby and 
the organizations that have been painstakingly built up My 
suggestion is to keep them going in some fashion for their 
educational value. Kids today do not have much chance of 
really learning the interesting and essential mechanics, at 
school. It is a mathematical job world out there today, and 
the school system is, pardon my French, royally con- 
founded when it comes to teaching the same, and the fun- 
damentals of structure why it all works, when it comes to 
computers. To make a bold prediction, we will see that in 
the next 50 years, computers as boxes processing separable 
software, will die out, (except for niche markets). Software 
will be embedded in ever-cheapened boxes and world eco- 
nomic dominance will go to whatever major power 
(economically) whose kids master this best And it is the 
computer user groups with their expertise in combining 
hardware knowledge as it relates to low level software and 
prograrnrnrng affecting it, that know this and can teach it. 
End of sermon. Let's just not waste this opportunity to give 
our kids a boost up. There is no one else; just believe me. 

The Problem With BASIC — (Parti) 

Within a newsletter which has just (see previous page) 
been thoroughly and wholeheartedly committed to continu- 
ing support of BASIC as a computer language for those rare 
individuals who cannot resist talcing things apart, in this case 
types of computer software, to see exactly what makes 
them tick, starting by offering- a gratuitous criticism of 
BASIC may seem just slightly peculiar. However, let us be 
honest about our favorite computer language it does have its 
theoretical flaws. The fact that no other full language was 
available to most home computer owners in the 1980's, 
(and buyers consistently rejected home computers with 
FORTH installed in ROM rather than BASIC), may seem to 
point to the fact that we BASIC programmers are simply 
making a virtue out of what started as a necessity and be- 
came a habit. But be that as it may, true or not, BASIC is 
both defensible and meriting some criticism. (About 
FORTH, one might say that it too was not a complete lan- 
guage in that it never, at least in its versions of the 1980's 
got a built-in floating point number data type or stack, and 
may have failed due to lack of such features which would 
have made it easier to use, like screen handling and graphics 
modification commands. Imagine bit twiddling with fast 
FORTH) 

One of the criticisms of BASIC revolves around some of 
the structure that it lacks, even though it abounds in 
features in many dialects But if you look at its competitors, 
like the structured Pascal and MODULA, you will see they 
lacked a lot of features that make BASIC easy to use, and 
cannot be considered, especially MODULA which never 
became popular (as it deserved to be), full featured. In addi- 
tion, Pascal, it seems, did not start life without the GOTO, 



philosophical phobia trigger of so many BASIC critics. 
ALGOL, Pascal's predecessor, much praised for being ra- 
tional at the time, by the usual purists, used GOTO, long 
before it was discovered that ALGOL programs without 
GOTO were always an alternative for the programmer, 
something not realized previous to the letter to the editor of 
ACM/Communications, by Prof. Dijkstra (1968) and his 
earlier remarks (1965) and work of van Wijngaarden, in 
1968. (Ref. Yourdon) 



/\ dia 
XJLzat 



second criticism laid on BASIC, is that its many 
dialects make it a nonstandard and unstandardi- 
ible language. Of course this was a result of 
BASIC prospering and spreading, the languages which died 
or backed into shrinking niche markets early on, never get- 
ting to that point. (What if Pascal had prospered to the point 
where TURBO Pascal had been just one dialect that had 
moved far away from standard Pascal. Actually, on second 
thought it is, with a claim for at least three incompatible 
dialects, all of them various vintages of TURBO Pascal!) As 
our local group member and Pascal booster , David Solly 
remarked once, those who criticize BASIC for its dialects, 
likely do not realize that it is just showing the behavior 
characteristic of languages, and more notable among natural 
languages like English, French and Dutch, ones Dave was 
quite familiar with, being a language buff that is, developing 
differences that we call dialects, etc. and just plain evolving 
with time. 

Looking at the alternative those critics of BASIC offer 
today, C language, one sees that it lacks the logic ad- 
mired in Pascal and MODULA, has a host of dialects now, 
that hated feature of BASIC by some of its critics, and is in 
reality a souped up, stripped down hacker language, fla- 
grantly exhibiting a third point usually used as a criticism of 
BASIC, the way BASIC was used and abused by hackers 
and small time programmers in the microcomputer era. 



B 



ut BASIC does have its faults. Let us be quick to admit 
them. But these are not unconnected with its virtues. 
Its virtue was that when it was devised, in 1965, long before 
microcomputers it was designed to run on terrninals, and its 
line-at-a-time interpretation which slows it and reduces its 
structure to a rather fragmented form was simply necessary, 
given roll paper scrolling and primitive editing, lack of com- 
puter time to share, etc. If things had gone differently, this 
also could have been a big advantage in the world of micro- 
computers, in adapting BASIC interpreters to simple substi- 
tutes for true, low-level multi-tasking, but that never caught 
on in microcomputers, CP/M and MS DOS modeling them- 
selves on OS/8 and OS/10 of DEC rather than UNIX. 

The second weakness of BASIC is its reliance on vari- 
able length data structures of strings and later disk files, 
like DEC operating systems and terminals that were origi- 
nally used by telegraph companies to send messages of 
various lengths. Anyway, that is too important a point not 
to discuss in detail which we can do another time. Stay 
tuned for article II. 



A- 




ZXir QLive Alive! 



17 



Spring 1995 



Daisy Be Good 



li 



by David Lassov 



Slct Da* a to 



We continue discussion of Bill Jones' suite of Word 
Processors for the TS-2068. So, get out your disk, 
Daisy.B6,DiskNo.l. 

Upon autostart, copyrighted banner comes up 
with a little tune and a request, that you "Press A Key...". 

For the second prompt, we press 2, since we normally 
wish to use our Brother M-1109, a dot matrix printer. 
Press 3, in case you have not yet matched the program to 
your printer via a customized routine "stymn.Bo" and 
menu "ps.Cl". Press 1 will allow you to follow along, us- 
ing the TS-2040 as a printer for 
your word processing. 

The third prompt requests, 
that you describe your printer in- 
terface, We select 1 for our 
AERCO Centronics Printer Inter- 
nee. Select 2 for Tasman CPI or 3 
for A&J. Right now, we need 
software-generated line feeds, So, 
we answer Y to this fourth ques- 
tion. 

Right Margin Justify is about 
the best thing to appear in home 
computing software, that we have 



Should we "Press Select" item "2. Re-ed", we are 
presented with a menu of 21 choices. Choice #21, Abort, 
gets the Quickie Menu back with no potential damage 
done. The other 20 choices place any of 20 data strings on 
screen for editing in edit mode. Whenever in the edit 
mode, a press of the pound key introduces us to Block 
Delete and Block Insert. Enter resumes a slower input 
mode. # implements a block insert (at the underline sym- 
bol) of L$, another string, or just arbitrary typing, upon 
hitting the Enter key. As before, "Cap+SymShf ' allows us 

to escape to the Quickie 



<2 > 
< 3 > 
<4 > 

> S :• 



H* (13 
H* (23 
H$ (33 
H$ (4.) 
H$ (53 
H$ (6) 
tt$ (7) 



<&> 
<9> 
10 > 
11> 
12 > 
13* 
14 > 



EDIT 

IS ( 1 3~ 
1$ (23 
X$ (3) 
1$ (43 
I* (53 
IS (6 3 

r?) 



15 
15 
17 



Typing 13 > 
Pi* 1Q> 
B$ 20 > 

21> fibort 

ever seen. So, Y is the answer to £n t € f Choice: 
the prompt #5. As you see, we like to indent the first line of 
our paragraphs by five spaces. So, we answer the last 
question in the affirmative. 

This brings on the Function Menu. Notice Turbo = 1 . 
We have just LOADED that incarnation of Daisy, which 
handles Input/Edit. The Main Menu for this facility is the 
Quickie Menu. So, we press 1, press 1 again (for Daisy dB 
Manager,) and get it straight-away. 

In the Input/Edit mode, the principal application rou- 
tines are "inpt.B6", "edt.B6", and "catCl" . Other appli- 
cation routines are Deleted and these last three are Merged 
in, whenever Turbo is changed to 1 or to 3, or whenever 
Input-Edit is selected at the Function Menu (as option #1.) 
Or, of course, they can already be on board, as in this case 
of the autostart selection on the Daisy disk. And, by the 
way, the Quickie Menu is the "Daisy dB Manager." 

Should we "Press Select" item "1. Typing," we are 
presented a blank screen with a brief display on line 22 of 
"Arrows = EditCap+SymShf = Menu". This is Bill's on- 
line indication of a way back out of the typing screen and 
in to the Quickie Menu, similar to the "Function Keys" of 
Mscript In the Input/Edit mode of Daisy, we have two 
phases, the Input phase and the Edit phase. 

With the departure of the display on line 22, we enter 
the input phase, which accepts keyboard input at type- 
writer speed (at least 30 wpm) and builds a "typing buffer", 
called u$. Any cursor movement with the arrows enters 
the edit phase. In order to re-enter the input phase, simply 
hit the Enter key. Now, hit "Cap+SymShf \ in order to get 
the Q menu back onto the screen. 



II 



Menu. 

"3. Store" allows us to store 
(in RAM) each of h$(l), 
h$(2), ... , h$(7) and i$(l), 
i$(2), ... , i$(7), in that order, 
after we enter a paragraph 
length, one for the h's, an- 
other one for the i's. 
"4. Help" takes us back to 
the Function Menu. 
"5. Delete Buffer" allows the 
user to reinitialize the typing 
buffer (u$), without storing 



ZXir QLive Alive! 



18 



* P r t it into one of the h's or i's. 
You are left with an empty screen in input mode, as in se- 
lection #1. 

"6. View/Edit Array Cells" permits the user to view 
and edit any of the h's or i's. Very handy!!!! But, the edit 
mode, here, requires patience and is nevertheless very 
handy. 

"7. Word Replace, Global" searches each of the h's, 
i's, and selected other strings for a desired word, and re- 
places it with an even more desirable word. 

"8." allows typed input to the L$ string, the same one 
that can be entered at selection #2, above at "Block Insert". 

"9." cycles the input cursor between "L" and "C" . 
":" reinitializes all the h's, all the i's, all the h's and i's, or 
none at all. Any reset is to a single blank character. 

" allows us to create colorful screen strings, such as 
menus or opening broadsides,yiwcina/mg. 

" < " permits us to LOAD (from disk) character ar- 
rays into the h's, the i's, or all at once. 

" = " permits us to also SAVE (to disk) character 
strings of ASCII characters : the h's, the i's, the h's and i's, 
or the entire variable file. 

"Buffer = NNN" indicates the number of characters 
(NNN) in the current typing buffer (u$). 

"Cell Limit = NNN" indicates the number of charac- 
ters (NNN) in current h or i, being filled. Note, that NNN 
also indicates the maximum number of characters of the 
typing buffer (u$), that will be stored, by invoking option 
#3. So, frequent reference to these numbers will allow 
trouble-free entry of paragraphs into your growing letter or 
document. 

. _____ Spring 1995 



"H-i" indicates which data buffer h$(i) is being filled, 
by storing the typing buffer (u$) at item #3. 

"I-j" does the same, when working on i$(j) . . 

"FREE=NNNNN" indicates the amount (NNNNN) 
of free RAM, remaining for the 2068 to conduct string edit- 
ing and other operations. The same information appears 
on the Function Menu, as well as other menus throughout 
Daisy, since memory utilization is so critical in the 2068. 

"L$=k" indicates the current number (k) of charac- 
ters in the L$ string, much used for Block Insert, as above, 
and for Block Delete, as the deleted material is automati- 
cally stored in L$. 

And, lastly, "ed" is the BASIC address (ed-2926), to 
which transfer should be made, in order to recover the 
Quickie Menu display from most places of the program. 
For example, break into the program and type "goto ed" 
or "goto 2926". Similarly, "goto frn" or "goto 2070" 
will recover the Function Menu display. 

Next time, we will continue , by discussing the next 
entry on the Function Menu, #2, Print Header. 



Daisy Update 

We continue to describe the operations of our new 
and improved Daisy word processor, using our TS2068, 
LKDOS (L3), and 9-pin printer Brother M-l 109. This time, 
we talk about the Quickie Menu. 

Just as the Daisy dB Manager comes up in Bill Jones' 
original formulation, only when Turbo = 1 or Turbo = 3 
holds, so the Quickie Menu appears only in 
In+Ed.B6 and ManlAd.B6, respectively. q$ Pi 

Please read the other article on Daisy r . 5 E ? 
this issue for standard details on the Quickie h $ * l } 
Menu. Here, we will indicate how we use this h $ 12) 
menu to accomplish the most amazing h $ ( 3 ) 
amount of satisfying work production. * 

Typically, we start entering a letter or £ X [ g ] 
document, by LOADing In+Ed.B6 from disk, h $ ( 7 ) 
The Function Menu comes right up with no i $ ( 1 ) 
prompting, as there is no printer to initialize in * * 
this current effort to enter a letter, or other i 5 [J) 
document, into a disk file as a character array, i $ 

Next, we press 1, in order to commence x $ ( 6 > 
Input-Edit. Now raced with the Quickie i $ C 7 3 
Menu, we enter Input mode, by pressing 1. 
This results in a brief reminder on line 22, that use of the 
cursor arrows leaves Input mode and enters Edit mode, 
and that Pressing Cap-Shf and Sym-Shf at the same time 
will return us to the Quickie Menu. 

Entering Input mode, we type away (at "turbo 
speed", according to Bill). Our typing is captured in string 
u$. 

After typing in our first paragraph, we press Cap-Shf 
and Sym-Shf together. At the Q Menu, we observe Buffer 
= MMM and press 3, in order to Store our typing buffer 
(u$) in RAM, before something happens to it. Of course, 
we have to input a length for this, our first paragraph, 
which will go into H$(l). This input 1 can be any number 
with MMM <= 1, and 1 will be used to DIMension all of 



ZXir QLrve Alive! 



h$(l), h$('2), ... , h$(7), in order to store our first seven 
paragraphs. 

What is the best value for 1, the "magic number"? 
Well, anything at least MMM will do, and Bill's suggested 
value of 700 stores a paragraph of about one screenful. 
But, 704 not only stores a screenful and stores the entire h$ 
character array in only one track of the disk at item ":" but 
also permits a very nice display of the h$ array as a "disk 
file" in program Po+Mm.B6, which is usually used for 
printing our letter/document, but lacks the sophisticated 
display facilities of In+Ed.B6 . 

In order to check our progress, we get the Q Menu 
on-screen and press 6. Here, we can cycle through each of 
our paragraphs, as Stored in h$(l), h$(2), ... , h$(7), i$(l), 
i$(2), ... , i$(7), edit them, and return to the menu. 

The edit mode is performed slowly and in BASIC. 
The input mode is performed quickly and in catCl, which 
is Don Lamen's MC program. Bob Swoger calls it a 
"Journaling Program". The slow edit mode is the only 
drawback, we have found with Daisy; so, that's not so 
shabby!!!! 

We mention this, only because Larry Kenny's Mini 

Word Processor is all in BASIC, and it is not only as fast 

on input, but also as fast on edit, with no letdown in speed 

between input and edit. This code comes from Larry's 

"Sequential/Random Access Files" and must be similar to 

what he had in mind for his "LarKen Desk Top Publisher", 

which will probably never appear ! ! ! 

Bill's editor is elaborate and implements all of Header 

Entry, Block Insert, String Insert, Block 

niShed Delete, Back Shift, Right Shift, Line 

n * 5 k 6 ^ Feed, Cursor Up, character Delete, and 

n FiniShe ^Resume. Larry's code implements all of 

Finished text Enter, text Insert, text Delete, text 

Finished Erase, cursor Move (all), Escape, and 

Finished Newiine. MWP works fine for Max- 

H • i t? S 5 Comfi 
Finished * 

Finished. As far as we can see, we are con- 
FiniShed sidering a singularity of Bill's code, 
Finished which can only be removed, by replacing 
Finished m p t.B6, edt.B6, and catCl. But, can the 
Finished many features of edt.B6 be replaced? 
Finished And, this entire input/edit facility is a 
Fi niShed foundation of Bill's Dbms code, also. 

Well, it's best not to make too many 
mistakes in the first place ! ! 

Oh, yes, option #7 (Word Replace, Global) is also in 
BASIC and slow. But in this case, we are not talking 
about searching a giant data base and progress is shown 
on-screen. So, it is not at all troublesome, even though 
slower than both Larry's MC search in MWP and Tom 
Wood's MC search in PROFILE. 

In our copy of Daisy, the original code for #9, to Cy- 
cle Caps, had to be repaired for our new and improved 
version. 

And, lastly, item ";" for "Macro Mgt" is fascinating, 
incorporating the 2068's color capabilities into the con- 
struction of beautiful banners. This is one of the reasons 
for our loss of interest in the TS1000 as our primary per- 
sonal computer !! 

Spring 1995 



19 



MECHANICAL AFFINITY 



The following are now available from Mechanical Affinity 
for your Sinclair home or business computer. Most 
items listed are available in quantity. Orders may be 
placed by check, money order, Intemational Postal Money or- 
der, or may be paid in English pound or German mark equiva- 
lents (plus 10%). We do not accept charge cards at this time, 
Please make all checks out to either Frank Davis or Paul Holm- 
gren, Do Not make checks out to Mechanical Affinity. You may 
place your order a either of the two locations. 

For those orders placed in the United States all postage and 
handling included in the item price. For Canadian orders 
please add $2 additional for postage per order. For the rest of 
the world then pleas add $3 additional postage per order, Sony 
for this, but the high price of foreign postage requires us to ask 
for this. 

MECHANICAL AFFINITY MECHANICAL AFFINITY 

do Frank Davis c/o Paul Holmgren 

513 EAST MAIN ST 5231 WILTON WOOD CT 

PERU, INDIANA 46970 INDIANAPOLIS, IN 26254 
Phone 31 7-473-8031 Phone 31 7-291 -6002 



BOOKS 

Syncware News Vol., 1 : All volume 1 issues in one book $7 
Touring The TS2068 ROM Operating System by WIDJUP $12 
QL Technical Guide $12 
QL Service Manual $10 

REPLACEMENTS 
Replacement or backup power supply for the QL, no serious 
user should without one. Available for only $ 1 5. 
Micro Drive Cartridges are $1,25 each 
MDV labels, 3 sheets for $1.25. For the QL, 
QL replacement membranes for keyboard $20 
68008 Processor chip for the QL for $5. 
8049 Chip for the QL for $6. 
8032 Chip for the QL for $16. 
8031 Chip for the QL for $18, 
8031 Chip for use with Gold Card for $20. 

NEW PRICES 
f\ VT now with SBASIC! the SuperBasic Compatible 
\^./V J_J interpreter. This is a card that plugs into a standard 
8 or 16 bit ISA slot on a PC and allows the PC to run QL pro- 
grams, fast! The operating system, called SMSQ is supplied on 
disk (can be installed on the PC hard drive) and includes Toolkit 
2 and SBASIC, a multi-tasking SuperBasic compatible inter- 
preter We have reduced the price on the 2 Megs card from $430 
to $360 (this can be upgraded to either 5 or 8 Megs.) Call Frank 
to check on current prices. Comes with 2 year warranty and free 
software updates. 

Gold Card - 2Megs, 16 MHz. (4 times the present speed) - 
Up to 3 drives, 1 .4 and 3.4 Meg. Has full TK2 and code for a 
Winchester hard drive. Now $200, includes ins/shipping 

Super Gold Card - 4 Megs, 32-bit memory, 24 MHz - 3 
times the speed of the Gold Card and 1 1 times as fast as other 
memories. Has all the features of the Gold Card plus - built-in 
parallel printer interface with cable, built-in 4 drives adaptor. We 
will accept Gold Cards, Trump Cards and Miracle parallel inter- 



faces (in good condition) for trade-in on the Super Gold Card. 
Call for price. Reduced from $485 to $395 includes 
ins/shipping. 

Full Trump Card, with TK2 and capable of 2 drives, 3 l A and 
5% 360K, or 720K. RAM memory of 896K All for $90, includes 
ins/shipping. 

512K Expanderam Card Adds 4 times the basic QL memory 
for those with microdrives. Only $25. 

Four Disk Drive Adaptor, for Trump Card and Gold Card. In- 
cludes the latest Tebbys Toolkit II. Only $39. 
QL Centronics interface-Serl/Ser2 to parallel printer. Standard 
Centronics plug that defaults to 9600 BAUD (switchable), 3 
meters cable. Priced at $40. Limited quantity. 
Keyboard-90 Interface- Allows you to replace the QL keyboard 
with IBM XT/AT externally. Great for those who want to place 
their QL in a tower or just gotten tired of replacing membranes. 
At a new low price. $90. 

QUBIDE, the QL AT/IDE Hard Drive Interface compatible with 
the Super Gold Card/Gold Card, Minerva and Hermes compati- 
ble. Allows you to have hard drive partitions up to 256 Megs 
each. You will need to supply the hard drive, case and power 
supply separately. $120. 

Jurgen Falkenberg Hard Drive Interface with power supply 
and case, 40 Meg. $299. If you wish the hard drive interface and 
controller only so you can add your own hard drive (up to 416 
Megs) and case with power supply, then it is only $189. This 
system works with MFM and RLL controllers, supplied. This 
interface requires separate bus extender card, which we have 
available. Two-slot expander for Gold Card is $40, and 5-slot 
adaptor for non Gold Card is $64. These adapters can be used 
for other add-ons besides the hard drive interface. 

Items for the Z88 
Soft Carrying Case. Also handy for the Laser PCS, Compumate 
andPC4.$10 

128K RAM Expansion $45 

512K RAM Expansion $150. Limited supply. 

Z88 to MAC Cables $10 

QLINK, QL to Z88 software $35 

QLtoZ88 Cables $15 

Should you need them, we can obtain EPROM Cartridges and 
one Meg RAM Cartridges; just call Frank. 
New Z88 Computers, with new manuals, carrying case, 
1 28K extra RAM. Handy 2-pound, battery powered, comes with 
built-in word processor, database, diary, comm. facilities, 
EPROM slot and built-in EPROM burner. Expandable with two 
RAM slots. Allofthisfor$230. 

SERVICES 

FlipRAM Level 2. Replacement EPROM for SuperQBoards 
VI. 17 upwards, with and without mouse) and all Trump Cards. 
Compatible sub-directories, about twice as fast on disk access 
times. It has the latest TK2, and a new ATR device which lets 
you access IBM/ATARI disks directly, All for only $38. 
QL Internal ROM Board- this allows you to put your favorite 
ROM version (JM, JS, JSU, MGUS, MGUK, etc.) on an 
EPROM. Lower power consumption by the QL by about 20% 
& drops the internal temperature by about 50 degrees Fahren- 



ZXirQLive Alive! 



20 



Spring 1995 



heit There is also room on the EPROM for us to include one of 
the following programs if you are an owner of QFLASH, TKIL 
SPEED SCREEN, TKIII, Brd & EPROM $30. Brd alone $12. 
Custom EPROM alone $20. Let us know which ROM version 
you want us to supply, or you can supply. We can obtain the 
latest Minerva for you at current market price. We can also put 
your own code on EPROM. 

Internal Battery Backed Clock For QL, Uses lithium battery, 
so should be good for far longer than ordinary batteries. The 
plug is where the 8032 goes, and the 8032 is then installed in it. 
$15 for brd & battery, or $22 if we install for you. 
QL CASE, contains keys and bare motherboard, no mi- 
crodrives. Can be used to replace bad case, keytops, or bad 
motherboard, or even as a start on building your own spare QL, 
Two for $25 

Keytops For QL, for $7,00. Use to replace broken or missing 
keys, or the whole set, if need be, These are originals, 
5 V* disks, 360K or 720K, with Tyvek sleeves and a brand name, 
100 disks for $18 

QL Network P rover, small circuit in box, gives visual LED 
indication of when two or more networked QLs are actually 
working correctly, for only $10 

QL Computer, with PSION 4 software, power supply, and mini 
manual. All of this for only $75. 



UPGRADES FOR QL 
MINERVA MK1, the ultimate replacement ROM for the QL. 
With this you can muM-task SuperBasic programs, do soft re- 
sets on the computer, use a dual screen, greatly improved speed, 
MDV datestamping, and the elimination of many bugs found in 
the earlier ROMs for the QL. This comes a EPROM, with its 
own board to replace your current ROMs, for only $58. 
MINERVA MK2, has all of the above, plus battery for 256 
bytes RAM, crash-proof clock & 12C bus for interfacing. Can 
autoboot from battery backed RAM and has quick start-up. 
Price reduced to $85. 

HERMES, replacement co-processor for the 8049. This will 
end any keyboard rollover you May be experiencing; allow you 
to set the serial output baud rates as high as 19,200 baud, and 
even set independent baud rates for serial 1 and 2 for input (and 
after the release of Minerva 1 .94 and above you will be able to 
also do this for output); allows you to use a modem with no 
dropped characters (even at 300 baud without a modaptor); al- 
low you to toggle ON/OFF the keyboard click; improve the 
"fuzzy" and "random" sound; and cures the INT7 screen freeze 
that used to occur, plus the keyboard buffer is increased from 23 
to 31 bytes for type ahead, This is the second processor for the 
QL, after your 68008 and by replacing that 8049 with she 
HERMES you will note the improvement. All this for only $42. 

SOFTWARE FOR YOUR QL 

We have been engaged in A search of all the newest and 
the best software from around the world for your QL. 
The search is not quite over, but here is what we have 
found so far. If you are looking for something we do not have 
listed here, give us a call and we will see if we can obtain it for 
you. We are users of Sinclair and Cambridge computers; thanks 
for the support! 

QSpread - the dream spreadsheet many QL users have waited 
for. It runs under the Pointer Environment, either by mouse or 
keyboard. It is formula oriented, as opposed to Abacus, giving 
the advantage that it can be modified anywhere. The parser has 
22 scientific functions, along wit the standard ones. The size of 
the spreadsheet is limited only by your memory, professional 
quality for only $88. 

The Lonely Joker - this is a solitaire game based on six different 
patience: Echelon, Napoleon, and Cascade, etc. All six games 
are very addictive, with different variations per game. It can be 
controlled by either mouse or by the keyboard, and runs under 
the Pointer Environment. Many people not into games keep 
coming back! For Only $29. 

Minefield - a Pointer driven game that requires TK2. This is the 
commercial version of this game where the object is to uncover 
all the fields that do not contain mines, avoiding those with 
mines (which will end the game prematurely), The price in $25. 
Adventure Creation Tool Special Edition , fourteen programs 
and several data files (including a demo adventure game 
IMAGINE) that can be used to form illustrated text adventure 
games to run on the QL. It is a flexible game environment in 
which, almost any number of new features can be added. The 
program is written in a language called ACTBASIC which you 
use to create your program and than use the ACT compiler. It is 
easy to use and allows you to create endless adventures or even 



TS-2068 Color Computer, manual and power supply, etc. for 
only $45 

Rotronics Waffadrive, two 128K stringy floppy drives; parallel 
and serial printer ports, Spectrum mode only, for $60. 
TS-2040 Printer, for TS-1000 or TS-2068, includes paper and 
power supply for only $25 

TS-1000 and ZX-81 keyboard membranes, new, for $5 
AERCO Disk Drive Interfaces - add a disk drive system to 
your TS2068, Available in two configurations: disk interfaced 
with 64K added memory for $80, and for the disk interface with 
256K added memory $98, These are used but in good condition, 
We may have a few in need of repair, cheaper, if you want to 
have them fixed. 

TS-2068 dock EPROM boards, bare $10. These can be used 
for a 2068 program on an EPROM or can be configured to use 
for non-volatile memory boards (32K to 1 28K), or as RAM 
Disk, We are now including docs for these, 
Tom Bent's improved 8K TS-1000 ROM on EPROM, for $10. 
Requires at least 16K RAM expansion to operate, but bug cor- 
rected, some character improvement, improved floating point 
math, and runs cooler. $12, and we supply the special socket to 
install, plus instructions. Works with the ZX-8 1 also, 
We can supply for those who are owners of the tape programs 
the following programs on EPROM: ZXLR8 for the TS-1 000, 
PROFILE for TS2068, MSCRIPT, HOT-Z AROS for TS-2068, 
MTERM II for the TS-2068 and Delphi Utilities for the TS-1000. 
$10 for the EPROM. 

PROFILE for the TS-2068 on Plug-in Board, the best TS-2068 
database, and it works great with either disk or tape. Greatly in- 
creased command structure and available memory for database 
$25. LOADs instantly. 

HOT Z AROS, on cartridge, for the TS2068, and for only $25. 
Fits in TS-2068 dock port, and leaves you more memory to work 



ZXkQLive Alive! 



21 



Spring 1995 



make some educational adventures for your children to learn 
from. Priced at $75. 

Genealogist 3 - if you have an interest in family history or fam- 
ily trees, then this is a great program for you, by Chris BoutaL It 
will keep track of data, birth and death certificates, census re- 
ports, and with full indexing and search capabilities. Printed 
manual and tutorial included, along with many other features. 
Needs expanded memory. Priced at $95. 
Budget 128K Genealogist = this is a cut down, microdrive ver- 
sion of the program above for tracking family history and family 
trees. Still a great value and for only $20. 
Ser Mouse - a software driver which allows you to connect up a 
cheap serial (PC) mouse to one of the serial ports on your QL. 
Even allows the use of three button mice. This requires you to 
provide the mouse and it needs the Pointer Environment, such 
as QPAC 2, QRAM or QTOP. For those who have the QIMI 
(with clock) mouse with Gold Card, you can now remove that 
and still have a mouse, Gold Card and a battery backed else in 
one machine. Not for use with a Microsoft mouse. For only $37. 
If you wish to have a Black Mouse (matches the QL) with IBM 
to QL Mouse interface, and software the price in $60. 
QDesign, version 2 - the graphic and design program, which 
now runs entirely under the Window manager. Handles virtual 
screens up to 2880 x 2880 pixels in 2 or 4 colors (depending on 
your memory size) QL and Atari- Screens, Professional Pub- 
lisher, Page Designer 2 and Art+ pages. It has a Preview over the 
whole page, and three zoom sizes. It uses Vectorfonts, which 
may be modified in more than one billion ways per font! Con- 
figures to print with 9 or 24 pin printers; also HP LaserJet and 
compatibles. Cost $88. 

Vec Edit - a vector font editor for QDESIGM, for $29. 
The Painter, version 4 - superb quality art and painting program 
for the QL. Pointer driven or keyboard driven, 100% machine 
code and very user friendly, which includes 9 and 24 pin and HP 
Deskjet printer drivers. It is also multi-tasking, with all sorts of 
drawing and text facilities large text, lines, and fill patterns, etc. 
Disk only and requires expanded memory. All of this for only 
$50. 

Easy Pointer 11 - you can create your own PE menus & sprites 
and use them in your own SuperBasic or machine code pro- 
grams. Easy to create menus now! Put all of the items you need 
on screen.... and it is done! Supports all PE facilities, Many ex- 
amples included and improved manual. We give you all of this 
for only $85. 

DISA version 2 - this is the intelligent disassembler, which al- 
lows you to disassemble interactively any kind of machine code! 
it is completely pointer-controlled, and very easy to use. It can 
generate ASCII cursor which can then be assembled. It will try 
to insert label names where possible and knows all the QDOS 
standards, The price is only $52. 

QLQ - a software package for those who have 24 pin printers, 
QLQ is a handy utility that helps you create your own fonts and 
you get an editor that can be mouse or keyboard driven. It can 
add BOLD or OUTLINE features to fonts. The fonts can be 
downloaded and used as either 10 cpL 12 cpi and proportional, 
Allows you to use all of the facilities your printer is capable of. 
Last, but got least, it gives you 13 predefined fonts. For only 
$42, 

System - system tools to use with QDOS. Has real file attrib- 
utes, such as wnte-only, hidden or selected user only capabili- 



ties. This will work over a network and with a Winchester drive. 
Also has NEW TRAP #3. new devices, namedpipes, MEM, 80 
new procedures & functions. Many other facilities to this pro- 
gram Yours for only $50. 

The D J tool kit - a useful and compact basic toolkit of 44 very 
useful extensions in less than 5K of code. It is ideal for use in 
unexpanded machines or with QLiberator. Screen and font 
handling, heap management and general programming aides. 
The price is $16. 

Super Toolkit 2 on Dick - Tony Tebbys famous toolkit for the 
QL. Many QL programs require this to work correctly. This is 
now available on disk for those who do not have a disk interface 
that supports TK2. The Price is right at $30, 
Media Manager And Media Manager Special Edition - a very 
powerful utility to enable QL microdrive cartridges and disks to 
be 'managed' and to recover data from them in the case of cor- 
ruption. It allows you to obtain intelligent directory listings, 
performs selective file operations, restore deleted or corrupted 
files, read and write to alien disks (such as IBME, TOS etc.), 
perform direct sector reading, etc. Media Manager sells for $35; 
and Media manager S. E. (which is much faster and more user 
friendly) sells for $55. 

FiFi - the file finder, This is a retriever that will search for and 
retrieve all files containing one, or up to three strings that you 
ask it to search for. You can even combine two of the strings 
when you set it off on a search. It can search your files, disks or 
hard drive, Priced at $27. 

Recover - A specially designed program to retrieve data from a 
corrupted Archive database on the QL. Priced at $29. 
Thing And EPROM Manager II - if you need to put your 
Jobs, Things, extensions, SuperBasic or code into EPROM, then 
this will help you to do so with comparative ease. You will also 
have the Thing Extension II, which gives you complete control 
over Things from SuperBasic. With this program you will know 
if something will run from EPROM before you have to burn the 
chip! For only $33. 

SlowGoId - Will allow you to slow down programs or games 
that run too fast on either a Gold Card, Super Gold Card, or a 
regular QL. It allows you to make these changes either before 
loading the program or while the program is in progress. It will 
not work with games that knock out the 50/60 Hz. Price is $ 10, 
Winback Version 2 - an incremental backup program for the 
Miracle Hard Disk, Falkenberg Hard Drive, or ED drives. You 
can back up files to any QL device - even on a single drive sys- 
tem. On the first backup you copy everything. Thereafter, only 
files which have been changed since the last backup need to be 
copied. Large files can be split across several floppy disks if re- 
quired. Directory rebuild facility for you it you need to re- 
format your hard disk. Supports up to 8 hard drives if required. 
Needs at least 256K RAM. ColdCard ED drive users can use 
smaller disk for their backups to save money. For only $40. 
Mufti Discover - a clever program that allows you to convert 
QL files to PC, BBC micros (DFS and ADFS formats), CPM 
(many formats) and UNIX CPI0 format. It will format the disk 
and much of the process is automatic. Requires dual disk drives 
and at least 256K RAM. For only $49. 
Page Designer 3 - a fairly easy to use desktop publishing pro- 
gram for the QL and the long awaited and vastly improved up- 
date of PD2. Make you own posters, ads, or even simple news- 
letters with this simple to use menu driven program. Text and 



ZXir QLive Alive! 



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Spring 1995 



graphics can be mixed freely, borders or your own art can be j 
easily added . This is a Pointer driven program and comes with ! 
many fonts, graphics and borders. Works with 9, 24-pin printers 
and with HP desktop printers. The price is $63. 
Professional Publisher - a full featured DTP system from 
Digital Precision for the QL. It is not Pointer driven, and does 
require extra memory and disk drives for optimum use. The 
price is SI 30. 

Professional Publisher ToolKit Part 1 - loads of all new High 
Definition fonts for Professional Publisher, a program to trans- 
late Sector Software Clipart files for use with PP, and a program 
to convert Pro Pub files for editing with graphics programs 
(screen_from _page;. We also have Part 2 of this, which has even 
more of the above. Each are offered for $40, or both for $65. 
Quick Laser For Pro Pub - a printer driver for HP 2 printers 
and true compatibles ( includes Deskjet printers) . It allows out- 
put from Pro Pub to those printers in graphics mode to produce 
top quality results. It is modestly priced at $30. 
Deluxe Font Enlarger - Will automatically enlarge font files to 
produce mgh-definition fonts suitable for use by Professional 
Publisher and by Page Designer 3. The enlargement is smooth, 
thus avoiding jaggedness, due to the techniques employed in the 
program. Enlargement is by integral factor, say 2 or 3 times as 
large, but not by fractions. It can enlarge either regular QL fonts 
or those which are already high definition fonts. It is priced at 
$34, 

Text'n'Graphix - a program to help you include pictures in 
your text files when you print them out Create the text in Quill 
(or your favorite editor), then use TnG to mark out space in the 
file for the pictures and print them out. Pictures can be created 
with programs like The Painter or from Clipart, etc. Runs on 
both expanded and unexpanded QLs and comes on disk or 
MDV. All for only $34. 

The ClipART by Progs - some of the very best Clipart we have 
seen for the QL, three disks-full of it, with a viewer. These can 
be used in your DTP program, art program, screen dumps, or 
with Text'n Graphix or OverDrive to give you superb graphic 
effects. For Only $23. 

Page Designer 2 Clipart - Clipart made for PD2, but available 
in screen format for use in other DTP/graphic programs if re- 
quired. It has a view facility so you may review the clips a page 
at a time, Works with Page Designer 3, For only $20. 
Mechanical Affinity Clipart Collection #1 - a ten 720K disk 
collection of compressed Clipart for use in QL graphics and DTP 
programs. Decompresser and viewer programs included. Thou- 
sands of images. For the inexpensive price of $40. 
Scanned Clipart I and 2 - two three disk collections of scanned 
Clipart for the QL in compressed form (decompresser program 
supplied). A wide variety of subjects is included, with many 
unusual subjects, Each set is $16. 

QPAC 2 - from Tony Tebby, the total upgrade from QRAM this 
gives you a top of the line multi-tasking Pointer environment, 
complete with hot keys and buttons. Great for setting up several 
programs on a HD or ED disk also, so you can have several pro- 
grams available to multi-task from without changing disks. The 
price in $62. Expanded memory required. 
QPAC I - a Program of Pointer Environment utilities by Tony 
Tebby. It includes a pop-up calculator, alarm, typewriter, calen- 
dar, digital clock, and some system monitor utilities, it includes 



the Pointer Environment, but can be used with your existing set 
up if you desire. Priced at $32. 

Cue-Shell - this is a new and more graphical front end for your 
QL, from Albin Hessler. It will offer you easy access to all of 
your everyday computer tasks, such as copying, deleting, view- 
ing of files, hotkey controL mouse settings, getting the date, 
windows and jobs controL and executing programs, as well as 
write protecting files or making them invisible. The price is $63, 
Expanded a memory required. 

QTOP- a user front end by CO WO of Switzerland. It contains: 
desktop systems file handling, job controL program startup 
menus, as well as five desktop accessory programs (clocks, 
graphics demonstration program, graphics animators et. ) This 
program is intended to be used in the Pointer Environments but 
can run also on the original QL, with slightly reduced facilities. 
There are versions on the disk for original QL Gold Card, Thor, 
Amiga QL emulator and the Atari QL hardware emulator board. 
The price for this on disk is $49. 

Qkick Front End System - now a simple and easy to master, 
pull down menu controlled multi-tasking front end. It will run in 
the background and can be called up at any time. It will give 
you: notepads, clock, diary, calculator, mini-database backing up 
facilities, sophisticated file/sector/RAM handling: For only $36. 
Qmenu - a very easy to use interface with pre-defined menus 
(multicolumn file-select simple-choice boxes, or select from 
lists, error handling). For only $25 
Printermaster - helps you to master your dot matrix printer 
with simple menu selection of printer functions. This can save 
you from having to look up printer control codes. It will even 
run on an unexpanded QL and can be supplied on either disk or 
MDV. Many drivers for popular printers are even included; and 
if not found, you are taken through the steps to create your own 
printer driver. All of this for only $25. 
Super Disk Index - got lots of disks and can not seem to recall 
what is on what disk? With this Program you have a useable 
index of just what is where and it has good search facilities. 
Create a disk that keeps track of all your other disks. For only 
$22. 

Super Disk Labeller - the easy to use program that allows you 
to create labels for 5 1/4, 3 1/2 or other size labels with ease. It 
gives you control over how much information and in what for- 
mat you want the printed label to be. A great buy at only $19. 
Address Book & Label Printer - program gives you a data- 
base for your address book, and does not require Archive to ran. 
You can print out address labels in several sizes (minimum size 
in height is 1 1/2 and on up to 4") and can even use European 
formats. All of this for only $25. 

Locksmythe & formatter by Zitasoft - this is the best copier 
and forms program known for microdrive cartridges. If you have 
MDV program that needs to be backed up, converted to disk, or 
an emergency copy made of protected MDV program ... then 
this is what you need. The best we have found and price re- 
duced to $42. 

Perfection Word Processor - from Digital Precision, what some 
are calling the best word processor ever for the QL. You get su- 
perb file, print quality, font style and always available on-line 
manual (helps you with the exact place you are at in the docu- 
ment or with any command or possible problem). Available also 
with QTYP for those who need a spelling checker. Also a ver- 
sion for the Gold card. Perfection for only$89 (works with Gold 



ZXir QLive Alive! 



23 



Spring 1995 



Card or non-Gold Card) Perfection Special Edition (uses the 
Gold Card special features ) for only S 1 50. Perfection Plus with 
Spellcheker for only $150. Perfection Plus Special Edition (for 
Gold Card) with Spellchecker for only $200. 
QTYP2 - a spelling and typing checker utility program that uses 
the Pointer Environment. It works with Perfection, QuilL or with 
Text87. The Pointer environment is supplied with this program, 
as well as a 40,000 word dictionary in English, French and Ger- 
man. It has a dictionary editor to create new dictionaries, adding 
your own words. Requires expanded memory, ft has a Super- 
Basic interface which allows you to write BASIC programs 
which use QTYP2. Priced at $46. 

Text87 Plus4 - a super word processor from Software 87, Fred 
Toussi. that gives you many great features, such as proportional 
printing, multi-column, multi-frame page layouts, display fonts 
to match printed fonts, a configurable display, multi-document 
capability, resize function for different sizes of paper, and a large 
number of fonts for use. You can import or save to Text87, Quill 
or text files. The price is $119. 

Typeset94 Deskjet - Text87 drivers for HP Deskjet & lager 
printers, $45. 2488 - Text87 drivers for 24 pin & bubblejet print- 
ers, $31. Fountext94+Founted89 - graphics driver & taunts for 
Text87, $61. Publishes Pack - a full package consisting of Line 
Design, Text87 and link program between the two. This gives 
you full DTP capability as a package. The package price is $300. 
Deskjet A5 - program written special for users of HP Deskjet 
500 printers and compatibles. It prints in small sideways print 
using the printers landscape fonts It is pointer driven and lets 
you print 2 pages of text side by side in book or leaflet formats. 
It can also be used to print 4 pages from Quill onto a single sheet 
of paper in smaller than usual print. It works with plain text or 
with Quill, and requires expanded memory. The price is $19. 
Solution - IBM PC emulator for the QL. Runs all well behaved 
PC programs on your QL, emulates CGA graphics. As it is an 
emulator, it is slower than the real thing; But it gives you access 
to many PC programs without buying a new machine. For only 
$46. 

PC Conqueror - The best and fastest PC emulator for the QL 
and can handle just about any Mono or CGA graphics Program. 
It can even use a disk drive to emulate a hard drive. We have a 
special version for the Cold Card that can take advantage of 
those QLs able to run at 24 megaherz, use either HD or ED 
drives as a mini hard drive. PC Conqueror for only $90. Gold 
Card Version for $150. 

Success the CPM emulator for QL - this is a highly successful 
program for emulating the CP/M80 operating system. It handles 
CPM programs up to 64K in length, add uses the CPM 2.2 envi- 
ronment. The disk also contains a ROMable version of the pro- 
gram should you decide to do so. With this you can put CPM an 
EPROM which you can call up when you want to use it. This 
also given you a Z80 environment The pnce is $59. 
Our Newest Additions 

Screen Snatcher - program saves a copy of the current Screen 
display to disk, microdrive, ram disk, hard drive. It will work in 
either mode 4 or 8, and if you are using Minerva in the two 
Screen mode, it can save either one. It does this by a key combi- 
nation you set up. The price is $16. 
Qractal - a Pointer driven Fractal graphics program, originally 
from PROGS of Belgium. The price for this three disk set is $32. 



! Megatooikit - the toolkit many have been waiting for to use on 
I their QL. It has over 200 Basic extensions that you can use in 
I your programming, The price is $40. Call or send a SASE for 
i more information to Frank if needed, 
j Qliberator 3.36 - allows you to compile virtually all of Super- 
i Basic with this Very simple to use program. It works with the 
j QXL, also. The price is $77. We also have the budget version 
i for those who have not greaily expanded their QL, for $39. 
j Sidewinder Plus - prints Screen dumps and desktop pubtehing 
' program page files. Screens can be printed in a variety of sizes 
from very small (postage stamp or label sizes) up to very large 
banners. Screens can be printed in large strips to be put together 
later to make a very large banner. Print sideways, mirror, invert, 
grey scale, mode 4 and 8, text insertion, label printing. Prints to 
9-pin, 24-pin, and to JX80 and LC10 color printers. Expanded 
memory and disk drives required, and sells for $39. 
j Banter - a banner making program. It will make text banners 
unto 4 sheets wide, using outline fonts that will provide quality 
text. You can type the text, preview it and then print. Fonts are 
included. It has drivers for 9 and 24-pin Epson compatible 
printers, as well as the HR5 printers. It requires expanded mem- 
ory and sells for $39. 

Image Processor 2 - a graphics program with facilities to proc- 
ess images, such as outlining, image enhancement, screen mode 
conversion, decoloring, recoloring, zoom pixel editing for de- 
tailed work, as well as graphics menus (brushes, lines, sprays, 
fill, boxes, polygons and circles). It offers menu driven Win- 
dowing to allow you to work on just part of a screen at a time, 
with up to three screens in memory at a time, file compression, 
and Pointer environment. You can even add your own screen 
dump or use the one supplied. The price is $39. 
SToQL - an Atari ST screen graphics transfer program to the 
QL. It requires the use of a program such as Discover to transfer 
the original files from the Atari disk to a QL disk, and then you 
use this program to convert them to QL screens. It will convert 
Neochrome and Degas files ( neo, .pfl, .pi2, and .pi3 extensions,). 
It requires 256K of memory and disk drives, The price is $19. 
Covert-PCX - this program will allow you to convert PCX Cli- 
part from the PC world over to the QL in either standard or 
compressed screen formats. You need a program such as Dis- 
cover (or other IBM to QL file transfer program) to port them 
over to the QL and then run PCX-Convert. It will handle mono- 
chrome and 16 color PCX images. There are literally thousands 
and thousands of these images available in the public domain for 
you to work with. It needs 5 1 2K of memory and sells for $ 1 7. 
Lightning and Lighting S. E. - these are the number one Pro- 
grams for speeding up your QL in the areas of graphics, text and 
math. You also get fonts you can use on your QL, This is an 
excellent way to speed up your QL and programs. Lightning for 
the non gold card QL is $40, and if Lightning S.E. for the gold & 
super gold card QL is $60. 

LINEdesign 2 - a real vector drawing package for your QL. 
Vector fonts and graphics do not got jaggy or rough when you 
shrink or enlarge them they stay smooth. There is no loss of 
precision when you change size. This is a pointer driven pro- 
gram that comes with lots of fonts and Clipart and can be either 
mouse or keyboard driven. It has lots of special effects available 
for use. It can be used as is for art, poster or ad output. If you 
use it with Text87 (word processor) and the publishers pack 
(available from us) then you turn it into a true desktop publish- 



ZXir QLive Alive! 



24 



Spring 1995 



ing system, it has drivers tor Epson compatible dot matrix print- 
ers, HP Deskjet and laserjets. It requires at least a Trump Card, 
but shines best with a Gold or Super Gold Card. The price is 
$160. 

Proforma - a graphics Library developed originally for 
LINEdesign. You can use this library in C programming and 
have access to all drawing commands and printer drivers, as 
used in LmeDesign, PFdata PFlist, etc. The pnce is $160. 
DATAdesign J - here we have a very user friendly database 
which is both powerful and fast. This can be used for all of your 
database requirements, and takes a much shorter time to learn 
than Archive. It can be programmed from BASIC, C, or assem- 
bly language. The price is $93. 

DATAdesign API - will give you direct access to the DATA- 
design database management Systems. It will offer you a record 
at a time data manipulation language which can be used in Basic, 
C or assembly. It allows you to have variable length fields, and 
the addition and subtraction of fields with no problem. Fields 
can also be accessed by several jobs at the same time. It sells for 
$33. 

PFdata - can be used to print tables from DATAdesign files 
using PROforma. This means that you have a large selection of 
fonts in any requested size. You can also include LINEdesign 
pictures to add logos, boxes, etc. You can print several records 
on one page, with several options for justification. The price is 
$33. 

PFlist - a very easy to use program for creating listings on any 
printer (including Deskjet and Laserjets). You can include a 
footer, 2 columns, filename and filedate. It allows for perfora- 
tion on pages. You can choose the font and font size as it uses 
PROforma). It also has a landscape print mode. The price is 
$33. 

PROforma Fontpack - a new pack of 100 high quality profes- 
sional fonts (not public domain) for use with LINEdesign or 
PROforma (or any program that can use PROforma, such as 
above). The price is $130. 

TURBO - the number one basic compiler and toolkit from 
Digital Precision. This thing is so complete that it has a manual 
hundreds of pages long to detail all of the extras. Priced at $1 10. 
ZM/hT System - the best Spectrum emulator possible for the 
Gold and Super Cold Card, and it has a Z80 compiler. It is 
about Spectrum speed on the Gold Card and much faster on the 



Super Gold. With this you can keep and use all of your old 
Spectrum programs. Cost is $60. from Ergon. 
DEA Intelligent Disassembler - also from Ergon of Italy. This is 
an extremely easy to use disassembler for your QL. You just 
load a file and DEA does all of the work. It will fully handle 90% 
of the work with no intervention on your part and helps you 
with the rest. It even handles multi-data types. It can also extract 
toolkit commands & much more. $40. 

Master BASIC - another fine Ergon program that is the ultimate 
tool for the SuperBasic programmer. It allows you to drastically 
speed up both the construction and debugging of your pro- 
grams. It is also Minerva compatible (as are ail Ergon programs, 
as well as ail other known ROMs >. It has a pop-up line menu for 
easy use. Priced at $35. 

QLibrary Manager - a Clever SuperBasic source code extrac- 
tor and manipulator. It will go into a program and extract the 
code you need to do a certain task and you can create your own 
library of such codes for when you need them in your program 
work. $25. 

Floppy Disk Utilities - another great program from Ergon 
which works with double, high and extended density disks for 
the QL. as well as alien disks. It offers you (1) a fast and power- 
ful Disk Editor (it can recover corrupt disks with even bad direc- 
tories or sector maps) (2) an intelligent disk copier/verifier, and 
much more. Priced at $25. 

Open World - the number one graphics conversion program 
there is for the QL. It will convert GIF, TIFF, IFF, etc. graphics 
from the PC or Amiga to QL graphics this gives you access to 
perhaps hundreds of thousands of PD graphics from other ma- 
chines. It converts to 4, 8 colors (grey levels), or monochrome. 
It has other facilities to allow you to convert QL graphics to a 
PC, and more. $25. 

Music Manager - a simple to use program to create and play 
music on the QL. It has PSION style operation. It is the best of 
its kind for the QL that is offered. From Ergon and priced at $20. 
Disk Mate 4- from PM data of Norway. This is a suite of utili- 
ties for disk control that runs under the Pointer environment and 
uses menu extensions. It is meant for the Gold Card, QXL and 
the Atari with QL emulator. A mouse is highly recommended. 
It covers ail of your disk and file handling needs. The price is 
$43.. 



RMG Enterprises 



14784 S QUAIL GROVE CIR 
OREGON CITY OR 97045 
503 655-7484 10AM -7PM Tues-Sat. 



Anyone interested in back issues of THE PLOTTER can still 
get them at 50 cents per copy plus postage. 
A couple of items have come in that are not on consignment. 
One is a 2068 in real good shape — computer and power sup- 
ply for only $45 plus $10 shipping. The other is a 2040 printer 
with an extra long cable with power suppiy for $20 plus $7.50 
shipping. If you are interested in these two items, use reference 
RMGU1294A&B. 



If you are interested in cassettes for programs, we have a good 
suppiy of 10 minute tapes for $.25 each in lots of 10. Soft 
cases for these are $15 each in lots of 10 and hard cases are $.20 
each in lots of 10. Shipping is $4 for 10 tapes with cases. We 
also have a lot of used tapes at only $.10 each in lots of 10 - 
shipping is $4 on these as well. 

TheBest of the Plotter is sold out 



ZXirQLive Alive! 



25 



Spring 1995 



Also, will not accept orders for the Companion Disk 
All orders received have been returned. 

We have a few WLs in stock that need repair. We are let- 
ting them go for only $30 each - complete, in the key- 
board case. Use them for parts or repair them for a backup. 
Add $8 for shipping. Add $15 for power supply. No manual or 
software with these units. We have 8 to sell. 

Just received the last of AERCO'sCP-68 
Centronics printer i/f stock and are selling them 
out for $50 each. (Reg. $80) plus $5 shipping 
per i/f, only a few left. First come, first served! 



While doing some inventory work, we came across some 
items that we were not aware that we had in stock. 
Maybe some of you will be interested in some of these items: 

2 AERCO FD-68 Disk I/F 256K RAM Set Up To Power The 

Drive and For LarKen Systems $ 1 25 
7 AERCO CP-68 Printer I/F 2068 $55 
Completely Checked Out/Repaired By Dan Elliott 
4 Issues Of The Original Program Of The Month Club Cassettes 
Real Collector's Items! $10 
1 MEGALITH 8Meg AT RAM Board (OMeg) - uses SIMMS 
New $95 
All above prices include shipping. If interested, call or write. 
If you are interested in cassettes for programs, we have a 
good supply of 10 minute tapes for $.25 each in lots of 10. Soft 
cases for these are $.15 each in lots of 10 and hard cases are 
$.20 each in lots of 10. Shipping is $4 for 10 tapes with cases. 
We also have a lot of used tapes at only $. 10 each in lots of 10 - 
shipping is $4 on these as well. 



TS 1000 Hardware: 

l> TS 1000 Complete In Original Box $20 
1> TS 1000 In Suntronics KD-81 Keyboard-Direct Video Output- 
Cables And Manual $50 
1> PC8300 (TS 1000 Clone) Not Working, No P/S $10 
6> TS 1016 16K RAM Packs— ALL FOR $12 Or Each 
$4.50 

1> TS 1000 ROM Demo PC Board $15 
1> Z-Dubber Tape Filter/Copier For TS 1000 $10 
1 > MEMOTECH HRG (High Res. Graphics) Pack $25 
1> William Stuart Systems Speech Recognition/Sound Board 
Interface (Not Working) $15 
1> ZEBRA Light Pen With Software For TS1000 $10 
2> TS 1 000 Power Supplies Both For $ 1 0 Each $5.50 
1> Molded Plastic Briefcase ForTS 1000 Package Holds 
TSlOOO/Power Supply/Cables/TV Switch/RAM Pack/Manual 
And Cassette Tapes $20 

TS 2068 Hardware: 
1> Ts2068 Complete hi Original Box Includes: Crazybugs Car- 
tridge/States & Caps Cart $65 
1> TS2068 With Manual/TV switch/cables/sottware includes: 
crazy bugs cart/states & caps cart. No P/S $40 

1> LarKen 2068 Disk Drive Interface W/Ver L3 ROM & 
SPECTRUM SPEC-2 ROM $125 



1> ZEBRA Graphics Tablet with Interface and Software Painter 
1 .4 , Techdraw 2. 1 and Radio Shack analog joystick $60 

General TS Hardware: 
1> TS 2050 Westridge Modem W Software $40 
2> TS 2040 Printers with power supplies $40 both or $25 ea. 
1 > TS 2040 Printer with no power supply $ 10 

8> Rolls Radio Shack Thermal paper W/2040 adapters $10 
1> AERCO Centronics Printer Interface W/Software $45 
1 > Supra Microstuffer Parallel 64K Print Buffer $20 
1>WINKY Board II Tape Filter $8 
1> Dual 5.25" Disk Drive Package W/Case and power works 
with both LarKen 1000 And 2068 1/Fs $100 

I > TANDON TM-100-4 5.25" Full HT 720K Drive $20 

For Above Items Please Use Reference # TWUII94 
CNSN-13 Last Updated: January 12, 1995 

More New Items Just In! 

79>TS 1000 Software Titles-Timex/Softsync - Others All $30 
' 9> TS 1000 Public Domain tapes - All $10 

I I > TS 1 000 LarKen Format Public Domain disks - All $ 1 0 
16> TS 2068 Software Tapes-Timex/ZEBRA - more $20 
4> TS 2068 Public Domain tapes $7.50 
13> TS 2068/Larken 5.25" diskettes $30 

Books: 

32> Titles For TS 1000 -Write for list $45 
6> Titles For TS 2068-Write for Kst $15 
8> Titles For All TS Computers - Write for list $15 

Magazines: ALL for $20 
23> Issues SYNTAX 6> Issues Computer Trader Mag. 

1> Best Of Timex Sinclair User Vol. 1 14> Issues SYNC 
19> Issues Time Design Magazine 2 1> Issues TS Horizons 
25> Issues SYNCWARE News 7> Issues Timex Sinclair User 

Newsletters: ALL $25 
11> Issues Vancouver Users Group 24> Issues CATS 

8> Issues Triangle Users Group 2> Issues SNUG 

3> Issues Sink-Link (Toronto Users Group) 1 1> Issues TSNUG 
9> Issues Quarters 1 5> Issues The Plotter (CCATS) 

22> Issues SWYN (Seattle Users Group) 
20> Issues VISTA (Vashon Island Users Group) 3> Issues QZX 
7> Issues Kansas Area Users Group 
49> Issues TS Users Of Fort Worth 

For Above Items Please Use Reference - TWU1194 
CNSN-14 Last Updated: December 1. 1994 




ZXirQLive Alive! 



26 




O I St S S I I O d iA'i^i^tSfc^ 



Place your ads here, it is free! 

Mail to: A. KAHALE 335 W NEWPORT RD HOFFMAN ESTATES IL 601 95-31 06 



SPECTRUM for your 2068 

If you are a LarKen LK-DOS owner and would like to run 
SPECTRUM programs on your system, we will supply a V2 
EPROM socket and 74HCT32 for $12 which includes shipping and 
handling. The installation instructions are in your LarKen manual. 
We shall not be responsible for your install job. AERCO owners 
need only the EPROM for $10 forwarded to LarKen. 

Bob Swoger Address on page 2 

747 <3fItsM ^imxtlxiax 

So you like to fly, the 747 Flight Simulator for SPECTRUM by 
Derek Ashton of DACC. Requires a SPECTRUM equipped 2068. 
Supplied on LarKen SSDD or DSDD LarKen disk for $10 which 
goes to Derek now working at Motorola with Bob. 

Bob Swoger Address on page 2 



PHh Chips 



Programmable Array Logic chips are available for 
some Timex and QL's from:- 

NAZIR PASHTOON 
NAP_Ware 
940 BEAU DR APT 204 
DES PLAINES IL 60016-5876 
Phone(eve.) 708 439-1679 

A Stuteqk Generic Wtr Qane tor ike T5-2066 

C O SB 41 13 E SS T 

Completely in fast machine code. Games can be SAVEd 
andCONTINUEd. Available on tape, or disk, AERCO, Oliger. 
Game and map SAVEs in BASIC allows conversion to your 
system. 

Price $19.95 + $2.50 S&H. 
Order from:- or> 
LLOYD DREGER SMUG 
2461 S. 79THST BOX 101 

WEST ALUS Wl 5321 9 BUTLER Wl 53007 

Make David an Offer 

ZX-81/TS-1000 TS-2068 
Hardware Kits 
Real Time Clock I/O Controller RS- 
232 Centronics l/F 1 6K & 64K RAM 
300 BAUD Modem A-D ConverteRassembied) 

BYTE-BACK INC 

536 LONG TER 
LEESVILLE SC 29070 



The John Oliger Co. 

11601 Widbey Dr. 
Cumberland IN 46229 

The John Oliger Floppy Disk System 

FOR THE TS-2068 

DiskWorks 
Expansion Board 
2068 User Cartridge 
Disk Boards "A* & "B" 
2068 Parallel Printer Port 
2068 EPROM Programmer 
2068/SPECTRUM Joystick Port 
DFh Mapped Universal I/O Port board 
Vpp Power Supply 
User Manual only : $5.00 (Read before you buy) 

Service For America's 

Favorite Home Computers 
And Their Accessories 

SINCLAIR 

TIMEX ADAM ATARI 
IBM OSBORNE TI COMMODORE 
BUY SELL TRADE UPGRADE 

Reasonable flat rate plus parts and shipping 
Write for prices SASE appreciated 

WANTED 

Dead oi Alive 
PC color monitors, keyboards, printers 
circuit boards, etc. 

COMPUTER CLASSICS 

RR 1 BOX 117 
CABOOL MO 65689 
Phone 417 469-4571 



PROFILE ■ ZX-81 (tic-tac-toe) 
ZX-TEXT - Word Processor 
ZX-CALC - Spreadsheet 

Business Software 

Cycle Accounting Financial Report Generator 
ZX-CALENDAR - Time Management 
ZX-81 TS-1000 TS-1500 
TS-2068 



ZXir QLive Alive! 



27 



Spring 1995 



Albert F. Rodriguez 

A . F . R • Software^ 

1605 PENNSYLVANIA AVE 204 
MIAMI BEACH FL 33139 
305 531-6464 

QLAMBer new users, QXUMinerva/QDOS com- 
patible $15 
QLAMBer + QLuMSi both QXLMinerva/QDOS 
compatible $25 
QLAMBer + QLuMSi upgrade $20 
QLAMBer + QLuMSi upgrades $10 
QLUSTer to QLAMBer upgrade only $5 
QLuMSi upgrade $5 



fit $eng 



914 RIO VISTA CIR SW 
ALBUQUERQUE NM 87105 
(505)843-8414 



JPLAIYFUS 

SOFTWARE 



•0; 



<5ET IN TOUCH 

With European Users 
Fidonet linked BBS 

QBox-USA 

810 254-9878 

24 hours a day 
Xmodem124 SEAIink Telink 
300 to 2400 BAUD 14400 
Runs entirely on Sinclair QL 
Maintains a link with European BBS's that carry 
QL related message areas. 
PD on-line, UPLOAD, DOWNLOAD 
SYSOP John J. Impeilizzeri 
'How-To' is in the April 94 UPDATE! Magazine 






Memory, Printers, Disk Drives, Software, 
EPROMs, Modems, Mobile Phones 
Mike Fink 

Domino Cubes 

484 W 43rd ST STE 27 Q 
NEW YORK NY 10036-6329 
212 971-0368 (ring six times) 



TS-1000/ZX-81/TS-1500 Software by 
TIMEX Orbyte Canaan Reston Quicks liva 

also for 

TS-2068/Spectrum and QL 
T/S Books 
Hardware for ZX-81/TS-1000 

TEJ Computer Products 
2405 GLENDALE BLVD STE208 

LOS ANGLES CA 90039 
24 Hr. Order line: 213 669-1418 



FOR SALE: Complete TS-1000, TS-2040 printer in their 
original boxes and three rolls of thermal paper. Mint condition. 
For $35 P/shipping. 

Complete Atari system, 800XL computer, printer, modem, 
software and books. Mint condition. $95 P/shipping 

ROBERT CURNUTT 

1 0400 TR.UXTON RD 
ADELPHI MP 20783 

WANTED: Articles or material for the QL and the Z88 for 
publication in ZXir QLive Alive!. Also articles on any other T/S 
computer. Can't publish what we do not have. Will accept even 
handwritten notes. 

DONALD S LAMBERT 
1301 KIBLINGER PL 
AUBURN IN 46706-3010 

FOR SALE: Radio Shack CGP-1 15 Color Printer/Plotter, 
$75.00. T/S 2050 Modem complete, in original box, $35.00. 

D G SMITH 
R 415 STONE ST. 
JOHNSTOWN PA 15906 
(814) 535-6998 

LIST letter 

Tke Long Island Siaolair/Timex Users Group 

HARVEY RAIT 
5 PERI LN 

VALLEY STREAM NY 1 1581 

QL Hacker's Journal 

Supporting All QL Programmers 

Timothy Swenson, Editor 
5615 BOTKINS RD 
HEUBER HEIGHTS OH 45424 
613 233-2178 



New England Sinclair QL Users Group 
16 HIGHLAND AVE 
SAUGUS MA 01 906 



ZXir QLive Alive! 



28 



Spring 1995 



CATS Newsletter 

The Capital Area T/S Users Group 
BARRY WASHINGTON 

7044 CINDY LN 
ANNANDALE VA 22003 
301 589-7407 
301 588-0579 BBS 

Chicago Area Timex Users Group 

PHILLIP KWITKOWSKI 
2106 DOVER LN 
ST CHARLES IL 601 74 

RMG 

ENTERPRISES 
Supports 
Timex/Sinclair Users! 



Call or FAX for information on 
prices and availability, hardware or 
software and books 



and 580. Re- 



You can send a legal 

quest list & price sheets 
Public Domain Software 

Sell Your Unused Computer 

& Related Items Here 

We also carry extensive PC shareware 
Allow 6-8 Weeks for Delivery 
Send check or money order to: 

RMG Enterprises 
14784 S QUAIL GROVE CIR 
OREGON CITY OR 97045 

503 655-7484 (1 Oam-tpm Tue-Sat) FAX 503 655-41 1 6 

WANTED: a M size keyboard, educational software and 
a replacement ULA chip for the TS-1000. 

ALEX SWEITZER 
RD 1 BOX 207 
FAYETTE CITY, PA 15438 

WANTED: Looking for instructions or documentation on 
the ZX Assembler/Disassembler by Bob Berch. 



WAYNE KNAUST 
2 PEAR TREE CT 
ST. PETERS MO 63376 



FOR SALE: QZX Index. 59 pages. $10 Postpaid. & 
PC-DRAW a printed circuit designer for the TS-2068 $9.00 pp. 

A F BURR 
2025 O'DONNELL DR 
LAS CRUCES NM 88001 

WANTED: The Explorer's Guide" by Mike 
Lord and "SPECTRUM Wargaming" by 

Owens & Fisher. 

PHILLIP JOE 
800 BOWIE LN 
GREENWOOD MS 38930 

WANTED : AERCO disk drive interface for the TS-1000. I 
will consider a purchase either with or without drives. I will 
even consider a repair-it-yourseif. 

FRED STERN 
PO BOX 264 
HOLBROOK NY 11741 
516 737-0963 eve. 

WANTED: DEAD QL's, Spectrums or add-on boards. 
Will pay $20 plus shipping for complete defective units. 

D WALTERMAN 
PO BOX 176 
TROY Ml 48099-0176 
810 656-4108 

From Nuts & Volts 

WANTED: Timex Sinclair User #2&5, T-S Horizons #1,2, 
7, 1 1, all after #16. Software for TS 1000 or 2068 - Conversa- 
tional German (Sinclair Research Limited), Der Student (J.W. 
Collins), German Tutor (Creitech) or sirnilar programs. Ma- 
chine Code Tutor for the 2068 (Knighted Computers - 2 cas- 
settes) or similar for 2068 or 1000. 

DOUG WAGONER 
E 4825 ST ANTHONY LN 
POST FALL ID 83854-8812 

FOR SALE: Assembled TS-1000 Hunter non-volatile 

board with memory and docs - $30 

MemoPac 32K RAM with docs - $20 

2 Beeper kits sounds off with key press - $10 ea. 

QL - Falkenberg hard-drive with Omti MFM controller 

(either a bus driver board for a Gold Card or one for a 

Trump Card), an MFM cable, hard-drive case and power 

supply. Works great with any MFM drive from 20 up to 

416 Megs. All for $225. Money order or COD. 

ELIAD WANNUM 
c/o UPDATE! MAGAZINE 
PO BOX 1095 
PERU IN 46970 

MAKE AN OFFER: LarKen Disk Interface for ZX-81 TS- 
1000. Includes the LarKen nanuaL Bill Hamier's unofficial 
manual, disk interface for 2 drives, a stack of disks including the 
PD disks (100's of programs), a disk drive in working condi- 
tion, a two-drive case with power supply and ribbon cable. 



ZXir QLive Alive! 



29 



Spring 1995 



Make an offer that should include the cost of shipping of 15 lb. 
Disk drive and case is offered only with the interface, however, 
the Interface may purchased seperately. 

DONALD S LAMBERT 
1301 KIBLINGER PL 
AUBURN IN 46706-3010 
209 925-1372 



PriCM Patch 



PRINTER RIBBONS in sealed plastic package. For 
EPSON FX/MX/RX 100 series. Not $3.00 each, but 2/S1.00 
plus S&H. Or 6/S3.00, 60/$25 includ. S&H. 

JOHN MANUS 
3609 CEDAR HILL DR NW 
HUNTSVILLE AL 35810 
205 852-2142 




Resources 



JACK DOHANY (Developer) 
390 RUTHERFORD 
REDWOOD CITY CA 94061 

JOHN MCMICAEL (Developer - Graphics) 
1710 PALMER DR 
LARAMIE WY 82070 
307 742-4530 

ED GREY ENTERPRISES 

PO BOX 21 86 
INGLEWOOD CA 90305 
213 759-7406 



Bill Ferebee (TS-1 000/2068) 
MOUNTAINEER SOFTWARE 

749 HILL ST 9 
PARKERSBURG WV 26104 
304 424-7272 

IQLR (QL) 
PO BOX 3991 
NEWPORT Rl 02840-0987 
401 849-3805 

Bill Russell (QL) 
RUSSEL ELECTRONICS 

RR1 BOX 539 
CENTER HALL PA 16828 

MarkStueber (QL) 
SHARP'S COMPUTER CENTER 
7244 MECHANICSVILLE TPKE 
MECHANICSVILLE VA 23111 
804 730-9697 FAX 804 746-1 978 

SUNSET ELECTRONICS (TS-1 000/2068) 
2254 TARAVAL ST 
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94116 

Bill Cable (QL) 
WOOD & WIND COMPUTING 
RR3 BOX 92 
CORNISH NH 03745 
603 675-2218 

Send them a LSASE and ask for information about 
their current products and/or services. 



UPDATE! Magazine 

The only known, privately produced Sinclair computer magazine that covers ALL of the Sinclair 
computers. We are now starting our 8 th year of publication ! ! ! 

We are a large quarterly magazine that is produced on Sinclair comput- 
ers. We cover the QL, Z88, TS-2068, Spectrum and the ZX-81 . Minimum 
issue size is 50 pages, and does include ads from Sinclair dealers. The sub- 
scription is $20 in US$ in North America; £18 or DM 1 5 equivalents. 

Send ail funds and requests for a new subscription to: 
UPDATE! MAGAZINE 
PO BOX 17 
MEXICO, IN 46958, USA 
Checks, travelers checks, cash are all acceptable. _____ 





ZXir QLive Alive! 



30 



Spring 1995 



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^ son 



FOR SALE: FOOTE Printer Interlace fits in the dock port of the 
TS-2068, no driver (works with LarKen without) $25. AERCO 
printer interfaces, one for TS-2068 and one for TS-1000, $25 each. 
JLO kit for 4 slot motherboard for TS-2068 $30. SPEM (Italian 
made) full page scanner for QL, fitted on a printer body, with manual 
and S/W $90. FRANK DAVIS 

513 E MAIN ST 

PERU IN 46970 

FOR SALE: Okimate 20 with Atari ST "Plung-N-Print" package. 
Comes with extra ribbons (both color and B&W) $65. 

TIM SWENSON 
513 233-2178 

WANTED: LarKen disk interface for the TS-2068. 

BOB SWOGER 
613 PARKSIDE CIR 
STREAMWOOD IL 60107 

From The BBS — Download ads.ads 

708 632-5558 Un-edited 



6.0 



FOR SALE 950123 : Memotech 32K RAMPACK 
used a couple times then somehow my machine died - now if you 
have a ZX81 or T/S-1000 that needs it. Also MemoCalc Spread- 
sheet Pack. Great shape and sill works. Want a spreadsheet that's 
instant on? Memocalc is for youl Ifll use whatever RAMPACK 
you have. This is a great pair of products! They both come with 
the little booklet they give you with it I would like $15 each or 
$25 for BOTH! What a 
deall Shipping included I 
I also have a 'sort 
of working Atari 800XL 
with a disk drive! The 
keyboard needs to be 
fixed - when plugged in 
the computer is dead 
and when you unplug it, 
it works (huh?) I've a 
small quantity of disks 
for above system and 
some parts that seem to 
go with it - make a rea- 
sonable offer above $45 
U- FIX and save [or send 
it to Dan Elliot and hell 
fix it CHEAP!] 

Tandy CoCol with Extended BASIC and over 3 Dozen 
(Rainbow/Hot Coco or whatever) mags and some Disks with a 
disk interlace that plugs into the cartridge slot If have some 
tapes also and manuals and other assorted goodies. I'm looking 
for at least $80 for ALL - 1 even have the color mouse and a hires 
interface as well as a Videotex cartridge. 

Wanted any screen dumps, drivers, or programs permitting the 
use of Radio Shack CGP-115 Color Graphic Printer (4-pen plotter) 
with the T/S 2068. Tape, JLO, or LarKen. Also: Looking for PC 
Magazine, Vol. 3 No. 23 Nov. 27, 1984? 
D.G.Smith 
R.415 Stone St. 

Johnstown, PA 15906-1609 (814)535-6998 



PRICE 


ALERT ] 


Disk 


Drfvss 






r mm m 


lllilllillllltl 


1,44m $%%Hl PS 

HMeeh SOS $81-9961 



} 9 

When reaCsed, the, package will contain: 

• LogiCaCC v 6.0 ensemble on two disks. 

• Sire -written and updated Lar*Ken manuaL 

• A re-written and updated LogiCaCC manuaL 
Vhis item is to be completed in the very near future* 

• 17te right price for the package is $15 

It wiCCBe available from Mechanical Affinity 

andtRMg editor 



COC03 128k brand 
new never used RS- 
232 deluxe modem 
pack w/cbl dual disk 
drives (5 l A & 3 l A) 
w/disko DC-7 con- 
troller ADOS3 
w/org. Disk Segeate 
40 meg h.d. w/ 
Burke & Burke 
controller (w/ clock) 
cassette CCR-81 w/ cable hardrive is loaded with software. Deluxe 
joysticks (Aspare parts). OS9 - OS9 level II. Shellmate misc. Issues 
of RAINBOW from 1983 to present - RAINBOW books (OS9 & 
RSDOS) will sell all as a bunch or individually leave mail on Delphi 
(RCPOLK) email rcpolk@delphi.com. Or richp@comm.mot.com 

FOR SALE 950103 : Packard bell 486DX24, 20m HD, 3.5 FDD 
tape b/u 2x CD-ROM drive MSmoney MS works $1000 Or best of- 

fer. Dave 708-205-2843 _ 

FOR SALE 950103 : 486SX 25MHZ PC 170M HD 14" .28 SVGA 
monitor 2m ram 2400 modem sound Blaster mouse windows 3.1 
DOS 6.2 3.5 & 5.25 FDD $800 Paul 708-830-5177 

FOR SALE 941205 : NEC Laptop w/ext. FDD & RAM 1S/1P 
port int MODEM built in WordStar Spreadsheet Telecom S/W Lt 
wt-int monitor $200 OB O 708-359-7293 

FOR SALE 941205 : MAC Classic 
w/software w/Apple dot matrix printer. 
$550 David 708-381-6715 



FOR SALE 941107 : IBM XT Ti 
20mg HD 512K RAM VGA monitor w/ 
Epson LQ-510 24 pin printer US Robot- 
ics ext. mdm $200 for all. 708-726-0650 
FOR SALE 941107 : Atari 800 48K + 
BASIC cart. FDD, interface module 
printer modem color monitor 150+ game 
disks word processor 4 joy sticks $85 
OBO Dan 708-359-7293 



FOR SALE 941107 : IBM AT clone 
40M HD mono VGA 640K mouse 2400B 
modem 287 C\P, lots of s/w 360K & 
1.4M FDD & more $350 Or best offer 
Dan 708-359-7293 



FOR SALE 940914 : MAC Plus 1Mb/ 128K .$150 Image Writer 
II $100 Robert 708-374-8612 

FOR SALE 940914 : Compudyne 386SX 16MHz, 5M RAM 60M 
HD doubled to 1 13M SVGA 3.5" HD sound Blaster card,2400 Baud 
int modem DOS 6.2 $750 Or best offer. Dan or Teri 708-884-9035 

FOR SALE 940914 : Laptop Computer - NEC w/ext. FDD mon 
RAM int. modem ser./prnt prts s/w in ROM.WordStar, Filer, Spread- 
sheet, Comm. Lt. weight - great for student. $250 Or best offer. 
Dan 708-359-7293 

FOR SALE 94110 : MAC Powerbook 165c 4/80 4MB RAM °" 
MB HD bit. in 1.4M Superdrive 33 MHz 68030 Color 14.4 int. 
modem & software $ 1 400 708-582-09 1 6 



ZXir QLrve Alive! 



32 



Spring 1995